New ‘liveness’ check to be done for Aadhaar fingerprint scans: Centre

The biometric authentication of Aadhaar numbers has been made more robust and secure by using an artificial intelligence and machine learning mechanism developed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the electronics and IT ministry, according to an official statement.

The new mechanism uses “a combination of both finger minutia and finger image to check the liveness of the finger print captured”, the statement said on Friday. “This is making Aadhaar authentication transactions even more robust and secure.”

“The move will be of immense use in segments including banking and financials, telecom and government sectors,” it said. “It shall also benefit bottom of the pyramid as it will further strengthen the Aadhaar enabled payment system and curb malicious attempts by unscrupulous elements.”