State-level workshop on deriving maximum impact out of Aadhaar

“Aadhaar is a Powerful Tool to Transform Possibilities into Reality and Simplify People’s Lives”
– Chief Secretary, Odisha
India Records Nearly 9.38 Crore Aadhaar Authentications Daily: UIDAI CEO

Bhubaneswar : Over the past decade, Aadhaar has significantly simplified the lives of millions of Indians. Leveraging the Aadhaar platform, the Government of Odisha has successfully implemented transformative schemes such as Subhadra in a short span of time. The coordinated use of the Aadhaar ecosystem by various state departments has the potential to turn possibilities into realities and enhance the lives and livelihoods of the people of Odisha, said Chief Secretary Shri Manoj Ahuja.

A state-level workshop on “Deriving Maximum Impact from Aadhaar” was held at the Conference Hall of the Agriculture Department. The event was jointly organized by the UIDAI Regional Office, Hyderabad, and the Department of Electronics & Information Technology, Government of Odisha.

Aadhaar is now the most widely used and trusted identity document in India. Odisha has emerged as a leading state in Aadhaar linkage, made possible by the dedicated efforts of the Electronics & IT Department and the Odisha Computer Application Centre (OCAC). However, more proactive initiatives are needed to link Aadhaar for children under the age of five. The Departments of Women & Child Development and Electronics & IT are working together to address this gap, noted Principal Secretary, Shri Vishal Kumar Dev.

Dispelling common misconceptions, officials clarified that Aadhaar stores only seven basic demographic details, yet plays a vital role in simplifying governance and service delivery. Presently, around 95% of India’s population holds an Aadhaar card, and approximately 9.38 crore Aadhaar authentications are conducted every day. The Aadhaar platform also enables the delivery of benefits from over 2,400 government welfare schemes across the country.

The central government has mandated about 550 institutions across sectors such as banking, insurance, and telecommunications to utilize the Aadhaar ecosystem. States across India are designing new welfare programs integrated with Aadhaar, leading to transformative changes in governance and citizen welfare. UIDAI CEO Shri Bhuvnesh Kumar praised Odisha for being at the forefront in both Aadhaar adoption and the implementation of innovative schemes.

He also cited Karnataka’s successful Aadhaar-based Land Management System as an example. The system helped identify discrepancies in land records, allowing timely corrective action. Shri Sunil Kumar Pommala, Commissioner, Revenue Department, Karnataka, shared how a similar system could benefit farmers in Odisha by enhancing transparency and accountability.

During the workshop, senior UIDAI officials including Shri Vivek Chandra Verma, Smt. P. Sangeeta, Col. Nikhil Sinha, and Shri Sanjeev Yadav shared insights on the growing applications and effectiveness of Aadhaar in modern governance.

Notable contributors to Aadhaar linkage efforts in Odisha were also felicitated at the event. Awardees included Dr. Pradeep Kumar Raut, CEO of OCAC; Shri Pradeep Bishoi; and Shri Sujit Kumar Raut.

The workshop commenced with a welcome address by UIDAI Deputy Director General Smt. P. Sangeeta and concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Shri Debaraj Rath, Director, UIDAI State Office, Bhubaneswar. Senior officials from various state departments and key Aadhaar stakeholders participated in the workshop.

– Saurabh Pradhan
Information Officer