Biometric Authentication for UID-based Smart and Ubiquitous Services in India

India holds one of the largest domains of the world in providing governance within a population of 1.2 billion people. Recent years have seen massive initiatives from all sides for using inclusive technology in catering public services. Several ventures like 'digital India' have been taken to improve the inbuilt technology in different governance systems. But ageing systems and isolated service-domains with voluminous structures have turned this task herculean. Biometric authentication and UID-based services come up in this scenario with an effort in simplifying the manner in which services are catered to the citizens. Though the Aadhaar project in India has been functioning in full vigor since its very inception, the service domains stay somewhat confined within specific areas. The authors have tried to extend this UID service domain to different potential sectors for catering smart services on one hand. The areas proposed cover transports, banking and even voting models. Biometric authentication on the other hand, is proposed as an alternative verification and authentication mechanism in these extended sectors. Unleashing its robustness and simplicity, biometric authentication techniques could be used to wipe out the chances of corruption in different aspects by proffering comprehensive linked-up security. Such verification and authentication mechanisms clubbed with the UID-based services would turn the existing systems smart besides opening up the foundation of ubiquitous services in India. The authors have also conducted a survey to understand the digital preparedness of the mass in accepting biometric techniques. The reports responded positive portraying the dire need of implementing interlinked ubiquitous services which could be made more robust, secured and seamless with the use of biometric authentication mechanisms.