Aadhaar authentication charges slashed to just ₹3 from ₹20

The UIDAI has slashed the charges for Aadhaar authentication recently. Entities now have to pay ₹3 instead of the previous amount of ₹20.

Aadhar authentication charges have been previously set at ₹20 per request. (Pradeep Gaur/ Mint)

In a bid to ease costs and encourage entities to use it more, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has reduced the charges on Aadhaar authentication. The price has been dropped to ₹3 from ₹20 per instance. This is said to enable entities leverage its infrastructure for providing ease of living to people through various services and benefits. 

While speaking at Global Fintech Fest organised by NPCI-IAMAI, Unique Identity Authority of India CEO Saurabh Garg said that the potential of leveraging Aadhaar in the financial technology sector is immense. "We have slashed the rate from ₹20 per authentication to ₹3 and the objective has been to ensure that different agencies, entities should be able to use the power of digital infrastructure which has been created by the state that needs to be used to provide people with ease of living with dignity," Garg said. 

Till date, more than 99 crore eKYC have been done using Aadhaar system. "I think it gives a cost effective and non-repudiable solution to fintech companies to onboard new customers. That is where the power lies and KYC of the Aadhar provides lifetime and reusable identity which is the power of the Aadhaar system," Garg said. 

He also said that UIDAI does not share biometrics with anyone and expects all its partners to maintain the same level of security and privacy as the authority does.

The Aadhaar card will now also play a key role in the new Health ID card system along with a person's mobile phone number. This was announced a few days ago by PM Modi as part of the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission.