Aadhaar plans facial recognition to replace fingerprints with AI, quantum security by 2032

27 January, 2026
Aadhaar plans facial recognition to replace fingerprints with AI, quantum security by 2032

Winning Bizness Desk

Mumbai.The government is planning a major upgrade to the Aadhaar system under the 'Aadhaar Vision 2032' framework. The plan recommends the use of artificial intelligence, cloud computing, blockchain, and quantum computing to make Aadhaar faster, more secure, and fraud-free. Under the new framework, facial recognition will become the primary mode of authentication, replacing fingerprints in most cases.

Key changes and authentication targets

Currently, around 9 crore Aadhaar authentications happen daily, of which nearly 1 crore are done using facial recognition. The government aims to achieve 100 crore authentications per month using facial recognition. The AI system will continuously update facial recognition data, reducing the need for repeated biometric submissions.

  • Facial recognition to become primary authentication method
  • AI-driven updates to reduce repeated biometric use
  • Biometric updates for 5 crore children already completed
  • Process to remain free until September 2026

Technical preparations and committees

The draft framework is expected to be finalized next month and submitted to UIDAI in March. This will lay out the technical structure for Aadhaar over the next five years. The current contracts for the system will expire in 2027, and a new contract will cover operations until 2032.

Expert panel for Aadhaar upgrades

A committee was formed in October last year under UIDAI chairman Neelkanth Mishra to prepare the document. The panel includes Vivek Raghavan, co-founder of Servom AI; Dheeraj Pandey, founder of Newtonics; Dr. P. Poornachandran of Amrita University; Prof. Anil Jain from Michigan State University; and Mayank Vats from IIT Jodhpur. Their work focuses on integrating advanced technologies to make Aadhaar robust and future-ready.

Road ahead and security enhancements

With AI and quantum computing shaping the technology landscape, the system aims to become highly secure and efficient. The government has already updated biometrics for 5 crore children and adolescents, and the process will continue free of cost until September 2026. The new Aadhaar framework will ensure faster, safer, and more convenient identification for millions of citizens across India.