Today, Aadhaar is used across banks, telecom, government services, and countless private platforms—making misuse risks more diverse than before. Earlier, fingerprints and OTPs were the primary concerns, but now Aadhaar Face Authentication has become widely adopted, creating new exposure points if someone gains access to your photo or digital identity.
The Aadhaar card stores biometric and demographic data, and this sensitive information must be protected. Many users have recently reported unexpected Aadhaar authentication alerts, indicating attempts made without their knowledge. To help residents track such unauthorised usage, UIDAI offers the Aadhaar Authentication History feature. This tool lets you check when, where, and which agency has used your Aadhaar number—making it an essential step for monitoring misuse and staying vigilant.
Aadhaar authentication is a process by which the Aadhaar details of a person (number, demographic information or biometric information) is verified and cross-checked by the Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR). This is usually conducted in case a bank, a financial institution, or government agency requests for such information.
In addition to fingerprints, iris, and OTP-based authentication, Aadhaar now includes Face Authentication as a major modality. This method has seen rapid nationwide adoption across government and private services, enabling identity verification through a live facial scan captured via smartphone or registered devices. Face Authentication has doubled its transactions from 100 cr to 200 cr in just 6 months. (Ministry of Electronics and IT)
UIDAI also uses advanced AI and machine-learning models to strengthen identity matching and ensure higher accuracy across all authentication methods. With these modern technologies, the Aadhaar authentication ecosystem is now broader, more sophisticated, and more widely integrated than ever before.
Following are the different types of authentication methods for verifying aadhaar card holders.
In this method, the Aadhaar number and demographic information of the Aadhaar number holder is cross-checked and verified with the demographic information of the Aadhaar number holder in the records held/registered by CIDR.
In this method, an OTP with limited validity is sent to the registered phone number/email id of the Aadhaar number holder. The Aadhaar number holder is required to provide the OTP along with the Aadhaar card number to the authority. While OTP based authentication is still common, facial biometric authentication is rapidly gaining popularity. Make sure you do not share your OTP with any 3rd parties, as phishing scams have become more common than you think.
Biometric-based authentication verifies an individual’s Aadhaar number by matching the submitted biometric data with the records stored in the Central Identities Data Repository (CIDR). Earlier, this process relied mainly on fingerprint and iris scans, along with other registered biometric modalities used for identity matching.
Recently, face-based biometric authentication has emerged as one of the fastest-growing and widely used Aadhaar verification methods across government and private platforms. To prevent unauthorised usage of any biometric modality—including fingerprints, iris, and face—UIDAI now allows users to lock or unlock their biometrics anytime through the updated Aadhaar app or the online portal, offering greater personal control and security.
Multi-factor authentication adds an extra security layer by requiring two or more verification methods to confirm a user’s identity—such as combining OTP, biometrics (fingerprint/iris/face), and demographic checks. This reduces the risk of misuse, even if one factor is compromised. It is increasingly used across Aadhaar-enabled services to ensure stronger, more reliable authentication.
You can now verify Aadhaar usage through both the UIDAI website and the updated Aadhaar App. The app also includes a new activity log that provides improved visibility into when and where your Aadhaar was authenticated.
Visit the UIDAI website and open Aadhaar Authentication History under the My Aadhaar tab.
Enter your 12-digit UID or 16-digit VID and click Generate OTP.
Select the authentication type (Demographic, Biometric, OTP, or combinations).
Choose the date range (up to 6 months) and the number of records (up to 50).
Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number and click Submit.
You will see the date, time, and authentication type, but the portal may not show the authenticating agency.
The updated Aadhaar App now includes a detailed Aadhaar Activity Log.
It shows a clearer context, such as when and where your Aadhaar was authenticated.
This gives more visibility compared to the older portal.
You can cross-check these entries with UIDAI’s email alerts, which often include the agency that initiated the authentication.
With Aadhaar being used across banks, telecom services, and government platforms, securing your identity has become essential. UIDAI now provides stronger tools—especially in the updated Aadhaar App (2025)—that help you control how your Aadhaar is used and detect suspicious activity early.
Keep your fingerprint, iris, and face authentication locked, and unlock only when needed. This prevents unauthorised biometric attempts.
Share only the masked version of your Aadhaar, where the first 8 digits are hidden, reducing the chance of identity exposure.
The new app shows detailed timestamps and context for every authentication, helping you spot suspicious attempts immediately.
The 2025 Aadhaar App lets you manage authentication permissions, disable modalities, and control what services can access your data.
The updated QR code allows identity verification without sharing your Aadhaar number, reducing risk during KYC or routine checks.
After every authentication, UIDAI sends an alert—review these emails to ensure no unknown agency is using your Aadhaar.
Use masked Aadhaar or secure QR instead of giving full copies to vendors or unverified service providers.
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You can check this by viewing your Aadhaar Authentication History on the UIDAI website or by using the Activity Log in the Aadhaar App. Both show the date, time, and type of authentication performed.
Review your Authentication History and the Aadhaar App Activity Log for any unfamiliar or unexpected authentication attempts. UIDAI also sends email alerts after every successful authentication—verifying those regularly.
Visit the “Aadhaar Services” section on the UIDAI site and use the “Verify Aadhaar Usage/Authentication History” tools. Telecom users can also check linked mobile numbers via the TAF-COP portal.
Your biometric authentication attempts appear in the Aadhaar Authentication History and the Aadhaar App Activity Log. These entries include biometric-specific request types.
The UIDAI portal may not always show the agency name, but UIDAI’s email alerts often include the authenticating entity. The Aadhaar App also provides clearer context than older systems.
Immediately lock your biometrics using the Aadhaar App, change your mAadhaar PIN, and report the suspicious activity to UIDAI. Reviewing your authentication logs more frequently can prevent future misuse.
