Dear Govt, Please Copy This! The One Update That Will Stop Aadhaar Scams Forever

Aadhar Advance Smart Lock

Proposal for “Aadhaar Shield”: Why We Need Granular Security Controls to Stop Fraud

To the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the Ministry of Electronics and IT,

​Aadhaar is the backbone of Digital India. From opening bank accounts to receiving government subsidies, it is our most vital identity document. However, with the rise of AEPS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) fraud, unauthorized SIM cards, and identity theft, the current security features—which mostly allow a simple “Lock/Unlock Biometrics”—are no longer enough.

​We need an evolution. Based on a newly designed conceptual interface (UI), I am proposing a “Smart Biometric & Transaction Lock” system. This system gives the power back to the citizen, allowing them to decide exactly how and where their Aadhaar can be used.

​Here is a detailed breakdown of the proposed features and why they are essential for user safety.

​1. The “Smart Biometric Lock” (Category-Wise Blocking)

​Currently, users can only lock all biometrics or unlock all biometrics. This is an “all-or-nothing” approach that is inconvenient. If I need to authenticate a SIM card using my face, I shouldn’t have to risk unlocking my fingerprints (which can be used to steal money).

​The Proposed Feature:

We propose splitting biometric security into three distinct toggles:

• ​Facial Recognition Toggle:
  • ​Why we need it: Face authentication is becoming common for government apps (Jeevan Pramaan, etc.). Users should be able to keep this ON for ease of use while keeping other high-risk biometrics locked.
• ​Iris Scanner Toggle:
  • ​Why we need it: Iris scans are rarely used in daily life but are highly secure. Users should be able to keep this OFF permanently and only turn it on when visiting a specific enrollment center.
• ​Fingerprints Toggle (Crucial for Financial Safety):
  • ​Why we need it: This is the most critical feature. 90% of Aadhaar-related financial fraud happens via fingerprints (cloned prints using silicon). This feature allows a user to permanently lock Fingerprints to stop money theft, while still leaving Face ID on for other low-risk verifications.

​2. The “Smart Transaction Lock” (Purpose-Based Blocking)

​This is a completely new concept. Even if a thief manages to clone a fingerprint, they shouldn’t be able to use it if the purpose of the transaction is blocked. This section filters authentication requests based on the sector asking for it.

​The Proposed Feature:

We propose four specific sector locks:

• ​Government Services & DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer):
  • ​Function: This controls rations, subsidies, and official government portal logins.
  • ​Benefit: A user can keep this ON to ensure they receive their benefits seamlessly without fear that the same access will be used to open a fake bank account.
• ​Banking & Finance:
  • ​Function: This controls AEPS withdrawals, opening new bank accounts, and loan applications.
  • ​Benefit: This is the “Money Lock.” Users can keep this OFF by default. When they actually need to withdraw money or visit a bank, they can toggle it on for 10 minutes. This single toggle would kill AEPS fraud instantly.
• ​Telecom & SIM:
  • ​Function: Controls the issuance of new SIM cards using Aadhaar.
  • ​Benefit: Cybercriminals often buy SIM cards in other people’s names. By keeping this OFF, no one—not even a dishonest store agent—can activate a SIM in the user’s name without their explicit permission.
• ​Third-Party / Others:
  • ​Function: Controls private companies, hotels, or non-essential verifications.
  • ​Benefit: Limits data exposure to unauthorized private entities.

​3. The “Master Control” System (All ON / All OFF / Custom)

​Security should not be complicated. To make this accessible for rural populations and the elderly, we designed three “Master Buttons” at the top of each section:

• ​“All ON” Mode:
  • ​For the days you are actively doing paperwork (e.g., property registration or bank visits). One tap enables everything.
• ​“All OFF” Mode (The Ultimate Shield):
  • ​This is the “Sleep Mode.” If a user is at home and sleeping, they hit “All OFF.” In this state, their Aadhaar is effectively a piece of plastic—it cannot be used by anyone, anywhere, for anything.
• ​“Custom” Mode:
  • ​This activates automatically when a user mixes and matches settings (e.g., Fingerprints OFF, but Face ID ON). It gives power users the granular control they desire.

​4. Instant Contextual Feedback (The Notification System)

​In the HTML design, we implemented a “Toast Notification” (a pop-up message) that appears at the bottom of the screen whenever a switch is toggled.

​Why this is vital for the Government App:

• ​Clarity: When a user turns off “Fingerprints,” the app shouldn’t just turn the switch gray. It must pop up and say: “Fingerprints are now disabled. You cannot use them for payments.”
• ​Confirmation: This confirms to the user that the server has received the request.
• ​Education: It teaches the user what they just did. If they turn on “Telecom,” the message can say “Telecom enabled. You can now purchase a SIM card.” This warns them if they enabled it by mistake.

​Conclusion

​The technology to implement this exists. We have already visualized it with code and design. By moving from a “General Lock” to a “Smart, Granular Lock,” UIDAI can virtually eliminate biometric theft and unauthorized account creation.

​This is not just a UI update; it is a safety update that millions of Indian citizens deserve.

​Let’s make Aadhaar Smart. Let’s make Aadhaar Safe.