UIDAI & IIIT-H Launch Biometric Challenge to Improve Age Invariance in Fingerprint Algorithms

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), in collaboration with IIIT-Hyderabad, has launched a large-scale Biometric SDK Benchmarking Challenge to enhance fingerprint authentication for children. The initiative aims to address the issue of age invariance in biometric systems, ensuring greater accuracy and reliability over time.

Key Highlights

Focus on Fingerprint Authentication

• The challenge targets 1:1 fingerprint matching algorithms for children aged 5-10 years and their biometric updates after 5-10 years.
• Ensures secure evaluation with anonymized datasets, preventing data sharing with participants.

Encouraging Global Participation

• Open to researchers and developers worldwide to enhance biometric models.
• Participants gain access to UIDAI’s unique field-collected dataset to improve accuracy in real-world conditions.

Challenge Timeline & Rewards

• Duration: March 25, 2025 – May 25, 2025
• Prize Pool: ₹7.7 lakh (USD 9,000)
• Registration: Available on the UIDAI website and https://biochallenge.uidai.gov.in/
• Top performers may get collaboration opportunities with UIDAI.

Future Challenges

• After fingerprint authentication, UIDAI plans to benchmark algorithms for iris and face authentication.

Aadhaar’s Role in Digital Governance

• Aadhaar remains a key enabler of digital inclusion, supporting 90 million authentication transactions daily for essential services.