Industry Odisha Bureau, Sep 10: UIDAI is testing whether Aadhaar can work internationally. The authority wants greater interoperability beyond India’s borders. Proof-of-concepts are already underway in select regions. One such test is running in the Middle East.
UIDAI CEO Saurabh Vijay outlined the effort Thursday. He spoke at Global Fintech Fest 2026 in Mumbai. Vijay said Aadhaar’s international focus is now priority. Interoperability, he explained, means working across foreign digital systems.
This ambition does not mean global rollout yet. Proof-of-concepts remain early-stage technical experiments, not deployment. No country partnership or implementation date was confirmed. The Middle East test represents one limited exploration.
NRIs could eventually benefit from expanded interoperability, Vijay suggested. Overseas Indians might update bank details or addresses. Such capabilities remain proposed, not currently available services. UIDAI is still building the required technical framework.
OCIs feature prominently in UIDAI’s developing policy approach. Vijay said policies could extend Aadhaar-linked benefits to them. He linked this possibility to potentially higher investment inflows. However, no OCI eligibility framework has been finalised yet.
A supporting legal framework is also under development. Vijay confirmed this work remains ongoing, not completed. No legislative changes or approvals were announced Thursday.
Security formed another central theme in Vijay’s remarks. International interoperability would require a dedicated security layer. This layer combines both technological safeguards and clear policy. Vijay did not detail specific cybersecurity systems planned.
Privacy received equally serious attention during his comments. Vijay cited data minimisation as a guiding principle. Preventing unnecessary profiling remains central to UIDAI’s approach. He said data should never be shared without cause.
UIDAI maintains process trails to strengthen accountability, Vijay added. Privacy, he stressed, stays central to every development. These principles apply regardless of domestic or international use.
Aadhaar’s scale underscores why such safeguards matter. The system has recorded over 185 billion authentications. That figure reflects repeated transactions, not unique enrolled users. Authentication volumes have grown steadily since Aadhaar’s 2010 launch.
The first Aadhaar was generated in Maharashtra’s Nandurbar district. That modest beginning preceded today’s expansive digital infrastructure. UIDAI’s international ambitions now build atop that domestic foundation.
NPCI featured briefly within Vijay’s wider remarks too. The payments body launched three products at the fest. Some could eventually carry international relevance, Vijay noted. UIDAI collaborates closely with NPCI on authentication systems.
Vijay argued India’s digital identity infrastructure must anticipate change. He said UIDAI should adopt technology proactively, not reactively.
Aadhaar’s international ambitions remain firmly in testing phases. Meaningful expansion will depend on proven security and privacy safeguards.
