Private Entities Will Now Be Able To Access Aadhaar Authentication Service For User Verificatio

The Indian government has broadened the scope of the Aadhaar authentication service, allowing both public and private entities across various sectors to utilize it. This expansion stems from a recent amendment introduced by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). The ministry emphasized that easing restrictions on Aadhaar authentication will drive innovation, knowledge-sharing, and improvements in public service delivery.

Additionally, the government highlighted that this move would enhance transparency and inclusivity in decision-making processes for eligible organizations.

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Aadhaar Authentication Service Expands 

This change is part of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social Welfare, Innovation, Knowledge) Amendment Rules, 2025, enacted under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits, and Services) Act, 2016. MeitY officially announced the amendment through an e-Gazette notification and a social media post on X (formerly Twitter).

#Aadhaar Authentication expanded to government and private entities for providing various services in the public interest boosting innovation, knowledge, and public service enhancementhttps://t.co/z8YHZ6Elyd#DigitalIndia @UIDAI pic.twitter.com/mK1CPAoNSp

— Ministry of Electronics & IT (@GoI_MeitY) January 31, 2025

With this update, both government and private organizations can now use Aadhaar authentication services to verify user and customer credentials, streamlining identity verification across multiple sectors. A press release in this matter read, “This will help both the service providers as well as the service seekers to have trusted transactions.”

To gain access to the Aadhaar authentication service, eligible entities must submit an application detailing their intended usage to the relevant Central or State government ministry or department. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will review these applications, and based on its recommendations, MeitY will grant final approval.

This amendment modifies a 2020 regulation that had imposed restrictions on private entities accessing Aadhaar authentication services. These limitations were originally introduced following a Supreme Court ruling, which cited privacy and data security concerns as reasons for limiting Aadhaar-based authentication for non-government entities.