UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Aadhaar is the world's largest biometric identity system with approximately 134 crore live Aadhaar holders

Q1. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) functions as a statutory authority under which one of the following Union Ministries?

• A. Ministry of Home Affairs
• B. Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology
• C. Ministry of Finance
• D. Ministry of Communications

Q2. With reference to the institutional evolution of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), consider the following statements: 1. UIDAI was first constituted by an executive notification in 2009, prior to being granted statutory status. 2. The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 conferred statutory status on UIDAI with effect from 12 July 2016. 3. UIDAI, as a statutory authority, functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. UIDAI was first constituted by an executive notification in 2009, prior to being granted statutory status.
2. The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 conferred statutory status on UIDAI with effect from 12 July 2016.
3. UIDAI, as a statutory authority, functions under the administrative control of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q3. In the 2018 Aadhaar judgment, the Supreme Court struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016. Section 57 dealt with which one of the following?

• A. Use of Aadhaar by private entities/body corporates to establish identity through a contract or other law
• B. Use of Aadhaar to receive subsidies and benefits charged to the Consolidated Fund of India
• C. Mandatory quoting of Aadhaar for allotment of a Permanent Account Number (PAN)
• D. Disclosure of identity information in the interest of national security

Q4. In which month and year was UIDAI's AI/ML-based Aadhaar Face Authentication solution introduced?

• A. July 2016
• B. October 2022
• C. August 2017
• D. January 2025

Q5. With reference to the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019, consider the following statements: 1. It came into force with effect from 25 July 2019. 2. It permits a banking company to verify a client's identity through offline Aadhaar verification, a passport, or any other document notified by the Central Government, at the client's choice. 3. It made Aadhaar authentication mandatory for opening every new bank account. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. It came into force with effect from 25 July 2019.
2. It permits a banking company to verify a client's identity through offline Aadhaar verification, a passport, or any other document notified by the Central Government, at the client's choice.
3. It made Aadhaar authentication mandatory for opening every new bank account.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. The 'JAM' trinity, regarded as the backbone of India's Direct Benefit Transfer architecture, refers to which one of the following?

• A. Jan Dhan, Aadhaar and Mobile
• B. Jan Aushadhi, Aadhaar and MGNREGA
• C. Jan Dhan, Ayushman and Mudra
• D. Jeevan Pramaan, Aadhaar and Mobile

Q7. With reference to recent Aadhaar performance figures, consider the following statements: 1. In 2024-25, Aadhaar holders carried out more than 2,707 crore authentication transactions. 2. Face authentication accounted for close to 102 crore transactions during the financial year 2024-25. 3. Aadhaar currently has approximately 134 lakh live Aadhaar holders. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. In 2024-25, Aadhaar holders carried out more than 2,707 crore authentication transactions.
2. Face authentication accounted for close to 102 crore transactions during the financial year 2024-25.
3. Aadhaar currently has approximately 134 lakh live Aadhaar holders.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3

Q8. With reference to the 2017 judgment in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India, consider the following statements: 1. The right to privacy was declared a fundamental right by a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court. 2. The Court located the right to privacy as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21. 3. The Court held the right to privacy to be an absolute right not subject to any restriction. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. The right to privacy was declared a fundamental right by a nine-judge Bench of the Supreme Court.
2. The Court located the right to privacy as an intrinsic part of the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.
3. The Court held the right to privacy to be an absolute right not subject to any restriction.

• A. 1 only
• B. 1 and 2 only
• C. 2 and 3 only
• D. 1, 2 and 3