UIDAI Launches Aadhaar Face Authentication SDK and Sandbox

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has unveiled the Aadhaar Face Authentication Software Development Kit (SDK) and Aadhaar Face Authentication Sandbox at the Global Fintech Fest 2026. The newly-launched products aim to enable financial institutions and fintech companies as well as other agencies and organizations to use the Aadhaar Face Authentication in their digital applications. By integrating the face authentication in the SDK, users will not have to open multiple applications as the new tool enables the authentication within the app that they are currently using.

What Is Aadhaar Face Authentication SDK?

The Aadhaar Face Authentication SDK is a fully functional software development kit enabling ecosystem players to integrate the UIDAI’s face authentication capability in their mobile applications.

It covers both Android and iOS platforms giving users an opportunity to perform the Aadhaar face authentication in the application which they use.

For instance, a client who uses any application in the banking, insurance or brokerage industries can complete the process without leaving the app.

How Does This SDK Enhance the User Experience?

Earlier, the Aadhaar Face Authentication process required the use of Aadhaar FaceRD app in the background.

This led to the necessity for the user to download and maintain one more application during onboarding. In the case of the new SDK, the dependence on third-party applications is minimized since the authentication features are embedded directly into the participating organisation’s application.

The outcome is that users have to go through the simple process of authentication using one application only.

What Is the Aadhaar Face Authentication Sandbox?

Along with the SDK, the UIDAI has created a special testing environment called Aadhaar Face Authentication Sandbox. There, participating organizations are able to implement and test the full authentication process.

Tests are performed with respect to the following aspects,

• User provisioning and consent
• Face capture
• Liveness detection
• Authentication
• Error handling
• Response validation
• Network interruptions and timeout
• Invalid digital signature
• Spoofing scenarios

The Sandbox does not require any external hardware for biometric data.

Security and Spoofing Using AI Technology

The software development kit has AI/ML-based liveness detection and anti-spoofing functions. It also includes the capability to securely handle and encrypt the authentication information.

It is built to work on consumer smartphones, hence enabling it to be used in digital services on a larger scale.

Aadhaar Face Authentication Exceeds 500 Crore Authentication Transactions

UIDAI’s homegrown Aadhaar Face Authentication technology was rolled out in 2021.

As per UIDAI, the technology has done more than 500 crore authentication transactions and has been deployed by close to 200 organizations, including government departments, state governments, banks, NBFCs, telecom companies, brokerage agencies, and certification bodies.

The technology has won the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2023 under the category of Innovation.

What Are The Applications Of Aadhaar Face Authentication?

The applications of Aadhaar face authentication includes,

• Digital life certificates via Jeevan Pramaan
• Beneficiary enrolment under Ayushman Bharat
• Direct Benefit Transfer programmes
• Aadhaar-enabled payments
• SIM card registration using e-KYC
• PM Kisan Scheme and PM Awas Yojana
• Beneficiary enrolment under PM e-Drive scheme
• UIDAI Launches Guide on Onboarding For BFSI Sector

UIDAI has launched a ‘Playbook on Ease of Onboarding’ for the BFSI sector.

This document aims to assist BFSI sector entities to better understand the onboarding process into the UIDAI authentication ecosystem.