The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Friday unveiled a resident-facing Aadhaar mascot named ‘Udai’ to simplify communication and enhance public understanding of Aadhaar services.
UIDAI said the mascot will serve as a relatable communication companion, helping citizens better navigate aspects such as updates, authentication, offline verification, selective information sharing, technology upgrades, and responsible use of Aadhaar.
The mascot and its name were selected through open national competitions conducted on the MyGov platform. UIDAI received 875 entries from students, professionals, and designers across the country. A multi-tier evaluation process was adopted to finalise the winners.
Arun Gokul from Thrissur, Kerala won the first prize in the mascot design category, while Idris Dawaiwala of Pune and Krishna Sharma from Ghazipur secured the second and third positions respectively. In the naming category, Riya Jain from Bhopal emerged as the first prize winner, followed by Idris Dawaiwala of Pune and Maharaj Saran Chellapilla of Hyderabad.
The mascot was unveiled by UIDAI Chairman Neelkanth Mishra at a function in Thiruvananthapuram, where the winners were also felicitated. Speaking at the event, Mishra said the launch is part of UIDAI’s efforts to make Aadhaar communication “simpler, more inclusive and more relatable” for over a billion residents.
UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said the open competition reaffirmed Aadhaar’s core principle that “participation builds trust and acceptance,” adding that the overwhelming response reflected how widely Aadhaar is viewed as a public good.
UIDAI Deputy Director General Vivek C. Verma said Udai will act as a companion and narrator to help residents connect with Aadhaar-related information more easily.
The launch adds to UIDAI’s broader push to enhance user awareness, responsible adoption and citizen-friendly communication surrounding Aadhaar services.
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