The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) today launched the Aadhaar mascot, a new resident-facing communication companion to simplify public understanding of Aadhaar services. The Aadhaar mascot named Udai (उदय) will be helpful in making Aadhaar-related information more relatable, and people-friendly. It will simplify communication of Aadhaar services – whether it is about updates, authentication, offline verification, selective sharing of information, new technology adoption, responsible usage and many more. To bring this vision to life, UIDAI chose an open and inclusive route by launching national design and name competitions on the MyGov platform. The response was overwhelming. UIDAI received 875 entries from across the country – students, professionals, designers, etc. – each offering a unique interpretation of what Aadhaar represents to them. A multi-tier evaluation process was adopted to ensure fairness and rigour in the selection process. What emerged from this process is a beautiful creation – that is shaped by public imagination and refined through institutional diligence.
