The identity platform 'Aadhaar' provides open "Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)". What does it imply?
- 1.It can be integrated into any electronic device.
- 2.Online authentication using iris is possible.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
An open API is a published, standard way for any software to talk to a service. Because UIDAI publishes its authentication APIs, any device that can build a request in that format (phone, PoS terminal, kiosk, PC) can use Aadhaar, and the service accepts biometric checks by fingerprint or iris as well as OTP.
- ✓ 1. UIDAI chose an API-based approach so that demographic and OTP authentication can start from any device able to create a request as per its API specifications; biometric capture only adds the need for a certified sensor.
- ✓ 2. UIDAI verifies a person online by matching the Aadhaar number with demographic data, OTP or biometrics, and the biometrics accepted include fingerprints, iris and face.
Remember · Aadhaar authentication = online yes/no check against UIDAI's CIDR, using demographic data, OTP, fingerprint, iris or face, through published (open) APIs.
Sources
- Aadhaar Authentication Overview, UIDAI (hosted by the Department of IT, Government of Puducherry) ↗ “UIDAI has adopted an API based approach for authentication application. For the hardware component, demographic and OTP based authentication could be initiated from any kind of device capable of creating authentication packet as per UIDAI's authentication APIs.”
- Authentication, Unique Identification Authority of India ↗ “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”
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper I (2018, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·