The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is preparing to host its first-ever event – Aadhaar Hackathon 2021. This initiative aims at helping young minds in engineering colleges to solve challenges around data enrolment and identity authentication using innovative technological solutions. This article will delve into the details of this upcoming hackathon, the themes around which it is centered, and a brief look at other hackathons conducted in recent times. Furthermore, we will take a closer look at UIDAI and how it functions.
About Aadhaar Hackathon 2021
Aadhaar Hackathon 2021 is unique as it’s the first time that UIDAI is venturing into this space. The primary goal of this event is to identify young talent, primarily students from engineering backgrounds who can bring innovative solutions to information technology related problems. The hackathon will provide a collaborative platform for participants to tackle real-life challenges related to the field of UID.
Themes and Challenges
The hackathon is divided into two major themes – Enrolment and Update, and Identity and Authentication. Under the Enrolment and Update theme, participants will be expected to devise solutions that ease the process of updating residents’ addresses, an issue often encountered by the public. The Identity and Authentication theme will focus more on resolving issues related to proving one’s identity without sharing the Aadhaar number or any demographic information. Innovations are further expected in applications around the recently launched face authentication Application Programming Interfaces (APIs), aiming to meet residents’ needs more efficiently.
Other Notable Hackathons
Apart from the Aadhaar Hackathon 2021, India has seen several other similar events in recent times. These include the Virtual Agri-Hackathon 2020, the Drug Discovery Hackathon 2020, CCTNS Hackathon & Cyber Challenge, India-Australia Circular Economy Hackathon, 5G Hackathon, and Hackathon Manthan 2021. These events provided a platform for bright young minds to showcase their abilities and bring forward innovative solutions to modern-day problems.
About UIDAI
The UIDAI is an authority established by the Government of India on July 12, 2016, under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology according to the Aadhaar Act 2016. Initially set up in January 2009, it functioned as an attached office under the Planning Commission’s purview. The core mandate of UIDAI is to assign a 12-digit unique identification (UID) number, better known as Aadhaar, to all residents of India.
Overall, the Aadhaar Hackathon 2021 represents a significant stride towards encouraging young talent to leverage technology in solving real-world problems. It provides a platform for innovation and creativity while tackling issues faced by residents in updating their information and securely proving their identity.
