The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched an Aadhaar Face Authentication Software Development Kit (SDK) and a dedicated Sandbox to help banks, fintech companies and other organisations integrate and test face-based Aadhaar authentication within their digital applications.
The two tools were unveiled on September 9 at the Global Fintech Fest 2026. The initiative is aimed particularly at the banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) sector, where Aadhaar face authentication can be used as part of multi-factor authentication requirements mandated by the Reserve Bank of India.
The new SDK allows UIDAI’s Face Authentication capability to be incorporated directly into native Android and iOS applications. Users can complete the authentication process without leaving a bank, insurance or fintech application and switching to another app.
According to UIDAI, the SDK includes AI and machine-learning based liveness detection and anti-spoofing measures. It also supports encryption and secure handling of authentication data and is designed to operate on consumer smartphones. The technology is intended to make deployment easier for government departments, banks, fintech firms and other organisations.
Alongside the SDK, UIDAI has introduced a Sandbox that gives developers and quality assurance teams a controlled environment to test the complete authentication process before moving to production. Testing can cover user provisioning and consent, face capture, liveness checks, authentication, error handling and response validation.
The Sandbox also allows organisations to simulate problems such as invalid digital signatures, network disruptions, timeouts and spoofing attempts without requiring external biometric equipment.
The launch changes the previous user journey, which could require the separate FaceRD application for Aadhaar face authentication. Users can now authenticate within the banking or financial application they are already using, reducing dependence on multiple apps.
UIDAI said its AI/ML-driven Face Authentication system, launched in 2021, has processed more than 500 crore transactions and been adopted by nearly 200 entities. These include government departments, banks, NBFCs, telecom operators and brokerage firms. The system received the Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Public Administration 2023 in the Innovation category.
UIDAI also unveiled a Playbook on Ease of Onboarding to guide BFSI organisations joining its authentication ecosystem for identity verification of customers, employees and business partners.
Source: This article is based on an official press release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB)
Press Release: Press Information Bureau
