Aadhaar not proof of citizenship, address or birthdate, sau UIDAI chief
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Lucknow: On the second day of the three-day international summit at the UP state institute of forensic science (UPSIFS), Lucknow, experts from across India and abroad gathered to deliberate on issues of privacy, data protection, cyber security and forensic science.
Around 40 specialists delivered lectures, sharing insights into emerging global challenges and opportunities in the digital era.
Delivering a keynote lecture on 'Evolving dimensions of privacy, data protection and cyber security', CEO of UIDAI, Bhuvnesh Kumar underlined the revolutionary role of Aadhaar in identity management through biometric verification. Clarifying misconceptions, he stressed that "Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship, address, or date of birth.
It is merely a tool for identity authentication and can even be issued to foreign nationals residing in India for more than 182 days.
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He emphasised that Aadhaar numbers are randomly generated to ensure privacy, and no agency should accept Aadhaar without proper verification. Referring to the newly enacted Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, Kumar said the law introduced stringent measures against unauthorised data processing and empowered individuals to file complaints before the Data Protection Board.
The Act, he added, would strengthen India's data security regime and align it with global privacy standards.
Highlighting the growing menace of cybercrime, deputy inspector general (cyber), UP Police, Pawan Kumar said that cyber offences worldwide caused losses exceeding USD 11 trillion — three times India's total economy. India alone recorded more than six million cybercrime cases, reflecting the gravity of the threat.
"Cybercrime is not merely a police problem. Combating it requires coordinated efforts across banking, education and technology sectors," he said, urging multi-sectoral collaboration to counter digital threats.
Retired judge Talbant Singh explained the critical role of digital evidence in modern investigations, calling it indispensable in cases ranging from theft and robbery to cyber fraud.
IPS officer Amit Kumar highlighted the paradox of widespread mobile use but low cyber literacy. He urged the inclusion of cyber education in school curricula. Amit Dubey, citing recent cryptocurrency scams, warned of criminals exploiting innovation and public trust. Atul Kumar Ojha called for stronger legal frameworks and specialised investigative teams to combat cybercrime effectively. Cyber expert Pawan Sharma emphasised digital audits as the cornerstone of risk assessment.
Manish Rai urged the integration of legal, ethical and technical perspectives in cyber governance.
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