Q.1 What is Face Recognition?
Ans. UIDAI does not use face recognition method to identify Aadhaar number holders. However, based on available information in public domain, it is understood that face recognition is a process by which demographic information or biometric information like facial image of an individual is scanned by applicable technology for 1:N matching. A one-to-many (1:N) biometric matching system compares a person’s captured biometric template e.g. facial image against all stored biometric templates i.e. all facial images in the system. Consent may/ may not be required to be obtained in Face Recognition. Therefore, it is important to discern the difference between face Authentication and Face Recognition.
Q.2 What is Aadhaar authentication?
Ans. “Aadhaar Authentication” is a process by which the Aadhaar number along with demographic information (such as name, date of birth, gender etc) or biometric information (Fingerprint or Iris) of an individual is submitted to UIDAI’s Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR) for its verification and UIDAI verifies the correctness of the details submitted, or the lack thereof, on the basis of information available with it.
Q.3 What is Face Authentication?
Ans. 1. “Authentication” means the process by which the Aadhaar number along with demographic information or biometric information of an individual after obtaining consent is submitted to the Central identities Data Repository for its verification (1:1 match) and such Repository verifies the correctness, or the lack thereof, on the basis of information available with it.
2. UIDAI uses face authentication as a process by which an Aadhaar number holder’s identity can be verified. A successful face authentication confirms that your physical face which is being scanned for verification matches the one which was captured at the time of enrolment when your Aadhaar number was generated. A successful face authentication confirms that you are who you claim to be.
3. Face authentication is based on a 1:1 matching which means that the facial image captured during authentication is matched with your facial image which is stored in the Repository against your Aadhaar Number, which was captured at the time of enrolment.
4. Face authentication is consent based.
Q.4 When do I need to authenticate?
Ans. Various government schemes and private service providers such as PDS, NREGA, banks and telecom operators have adopted Aadhaar authentication for verification of their beneficiaries/customers. The authentication is generally done either at the time of delivery of benefits or subscribing to the service.
Q.5 What are the benefits of Aadhaar authentication?
Ans. Aadhaar authentication provides an instant mechanism to prove your identity through online authentication. Therefore one need not carry any other ID proof except Aadhaar number.
Q.6 Is there a mechanism to notify the residents when an authentication occurs against their Aadhaar number?
Ans. UIDAI notifies the authentication on the registered email of the resident. Every time UIDAI receives a biometric or OTP based authentication request against an Aadhaar number, a notification is sent to the registered email address.
Q.7 I received an authentication notification even though I did not authenticate myself. Whom do I approach?
Ans. UIDAI contact information, call centre number and e-mail Id are provided in the UIDAI’s notification email. You may contact UIDAI with the authentication details provided in the notification e-mail.
Q.8 Do I need to authenticate with only my thumbs?
Ans. Aadhaar authentication can be achieved with any of the ten fingers.
Q.9 What if my authentication request gets rejected even though I provide my fingerprints with my Aadhaar number?
Ans. If fingerprint authentication fails, residents can
- Retry with correct placement and pressure of finger on fingerprint scanner
- Retry with different fingers
- Cleaning the fingerprint scanner
- Cleaning the fingers
If biometric authentication fails repeatedly over a period of time, resident may approach an Aadhaar updation centre and get their biometrics updated with UIDAI.
Q.10 Will I be denied my entitlements (ration, NREGA job etc.) if my authentication request is rejected?
Ans. UIDAI and the service providers availing Aadhaar authentication recognize the fact that Aadhaar authentication is subject to certain technological and biometric limitations such as poor fingerprint quality, network availability etc. Therefore the service providers will have alternate processes to identify/ authenticate their beneficiaries/ customers, including exception handling mechanism at their point of presence, so that residents are not denied entitlements due to technological or biometric limitations.
Q.11 How will I authenticate if my fingerprints are worn out / I have no fingers?
Ans. Service providers are advised to deploy alternate authentication mechanisms such as iris authentication, OTP authentication to handle such issues. Additionally, service provider may have other methods of verification of their beneficiaries.
Q.12 How do I request for OTP?
Ans. OTP can be requested through service providers’ application requiring OTP authentication on mobile number registered with UIDAI.
