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Q17 (IAS/2018) Science & Technology › ICT, AI, Cybersecurity & Emerging Tech › Digital identity and authentication Official Key

The identity platform 'Aadhaar' provides open "Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)". What does it imply ? 1. It can be integrated into any electronic device. 2. Online authentication using iris is possible. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: C
Explanation

The correct answer is option C (Both 1 and 2).

India Stack, which includes Aadhaar, is a set of open APIs (application programming interfaces) and specifications for verification of identity, payments, and sharing[1] of data[2]. Open APIs are favored because interoperability enables a wide range of services to be integrated into the system[3]. This means Statement 1 is correct—the open API architecture allows integration into various electronic devices and systems.

Aadhaar fundamentally provides two values—uniqueness and online authentication[4]. The Aadhaar Authentication API specification contains details including API data format, protocol, and security specifications[5]. Since Aadhaar uses biometric authentication including iris scans, and provides online authentication capabilities through its APIs, Statement 2 is also correct—online authentication using iris is indeed possible.

Therefore, both statements are correct, making option C the right answer.

Sources
  1. [1] https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/5fdfbc4891d5c9f0942f7e0f86a72e05-0050062025/original/Abhishek-Sankritik-Digital-public-infrastructure.pdf
  2. [2] https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/5fdfbc4891d5c9f0942f7e0f86a72e05-0050062025/original/Abhishek-Sankritik-Digital-public-infrastructure.pdf
  3. [3] https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/5fdfbc4891d5c9f0942f7e0f86a72e05-0050062025/original/Abhishek-Sankritik-Digital-public-infrastructure.pdf
  4. [4] https://dit.py.gov.in/sites/default/files/Aadhaar-enabled-service-delivery.pdf
  5. [5] https://uidai.gov.in/images/resource/Aadhaar_Authentication_API-2.5_Revision-1_of_January_2022.pdf
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. The identity platform 'Aadhaar' provides open "Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)". What does it imply ? 1. It can be integrated …
At a glance
Origin: Mostly Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 0/10 · 5/10

This question marked a shift from asking 'Which Ministry?' to 'How does the Tech work?'. It targets the functional architecture of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). Standard books cover the Act/Privacy judgment, but the 'API' and 'Iris' details come from understanding the 'India Stack' ecosystem found in tech-policy explainers.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Can Aadhaar's open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) be integrated into any electronic device?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs Fairness: CA heavy Web-answerable

Web source
Presence: 5/5
"foundation is India Stack—a set of open APIs (application programming interfaces) and specifications for verification of identity, payments, and sharing of data"
Why this source?
  • Directly names India Stack as a set of open APIs for identity, payments, and data sharing — linking Aadhaar-related functionality to open APIs.
  • Implies those open APIs are the foundation for verification and other functions that can be used by external systems.
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"favoring widely adopted open standards (or open APIs) for the core functions of DPI ... because interoperability enables a wide range of services to be integrated into the system."
Why this source?
  • States that favoring widely adopted open standards or open APIs maximizes interoperability across systems and enables many services to be integrated.
  • Supports the idea that open APIs are intended to allow integration into a wide range of systems (and by extension devices).
Web source
Presence: 4/5
"An API decouples a software application from its underlying functionality implementation."
Why this source?
  • Explains what an API does — it decouples software from underlying implementations, making integration into other software or systems easier.
  • This technical characteristic supports the feasibility of integrating open APIs with various external devices/systems.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Recent Reforms to Improve Public Distribution System > p. 337
Strength: 5/5
“So far, 88 per cent of FPSs in India have been automated through installation of ePoS (electronic point of sale) devices, thereby ensuring end-to-end computerisation. • 3. Digitisation of Ration Cards and their Aadhaar seeding to enable distribution of food grains to beneficiaries after biometric authentication.”
Why relevant

Describes use of ePoS (electronic point of sale) devices to automate FPSs and perform distribution after biometric authentication (Aadhaar seeding).

How to extend

A student could infer Aadhaar-enabled biometric authentication is already running on specialized electronic devices and check whether those devices call Aadhaar APIs or SDKs and whether similar integration is technically possible on other devices.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 2: Money and Banking- Part I > 10.Oversight of payment and settlement systems > p. 71
Strength: 4/5
“• Unified Payments Interface (UPI)• Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS)• Rupay Cards• National Automatic Clearing House (ACH)• Linking of ATMs across India (some other operators are also involved)• National Electronic Toll collection (It provides an electronic payment facility to customer to make the payments at national, state and city toll plazas by identifying the vehicle uniquely through a FASTag) NPCI is a 'Not for Profit' company where 51% stake is owned by public sector banks.”
Why relevant

Lists Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) alongside other digital payment systems, implying Aadhaar-based services are exposed for transaction use.

How to extend

One could reason that AEPS requires programmatic interfaces for devices/terminals and therefore look up AEPS API/terminal requirements to judge portability to other devices.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 8: Financial Market > Xinow Your Customer Norms > p. 227
Strength: 4/5
“KYC means 'Know Your Customer'. It is a process through which banks obtain information about the identity and address of the customers. This process helps to ensure that banks' services are not misused. The KYC procedure is to be completed by the banks at the time of opening accounts. Banks are also required to periodically update their customers' KYC details. e-KYC or Electronic KYC is possible only for those who have Aadhaar numbers. One can still open a bank account known as 'Small Account' by submitting his/her recent photograph and putting the signature or thumb impression in the presence of the bank official.”
Why relevant

Explains e-KYC (electronic KYC) is possible only for those with Aadhaar numbers, indicating Aadhaar supports electronic identity verification workflows.

How to extend

A student could infer e-KYC is implemented through electronic interfaces and then examine whether those interfaces (APIs/SDKs) are platform-agnostic and can be called from varied devices.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > One Nation one Ration Card (ONORC): > p. 297
Strength: 4/5
“While the person can buy food grains as per his or her entitlement under the NFSA at the place where he or she is based, members of his or her family can still go to their ration dealer back home.• Earlier, NFSA beneficiaries were not able to access their PDS benefits outside the jurisdiction of the specific fair price shop to which they have been assigned. The Govt. envisioned the ONORC to give them access to benefits from any fair price shop.• ONORC is based on technology that involves details of beneficiaries' ration card, Aadhaar number, and electronic Points of Sale (ePoS).”
Why relevant

States ONORC is based on technology involving Aadhaar numbers and electronic Points of Sale (ePoS), showing Aadhaar data is integrated into distributed electronic systems.

How to extend

From this pattern a student could consider the technical requirements of ePoS integration (connectivity, biometric readers, certification) to assess if other electronic devices could implement similar Aadhaar-enabled flows.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 10: Agriculture - Part I > 10.9.2 Electronic - National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) > p. 315
Strength: 3/5
“collection centre or WDRA registered warehouses (actually these have been integrated with e-NAM platform). Govt is working on the modalities so that farmers will be able to sell their produce online sitting at their home through their mobile with their physical produce at home, but it may take a year or more.”
Why relevant

Notes government work to enable farmers to sell online via mobile, implying Aadhaar-linked services are intended for mobile/device access.

How to extend

A student might extend this to ask whether Aadhaar interfaces support mobile clients and thus whether they are adaptable to other classes of electronic devices with network capability.

Statement 2
Do Aadhaar's open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) enable online authentication using iris biometrics?
Origin: Weak / unclear Fairness: Borderline / guessy
Indirect textbook clues
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Disbanding Planning Commission and Setting up NITI Aayog > p. 780
Strength: 5/5
“moving unbanked Indians towards organised finance were thus taken. Criticism that privacy and security are affected need to be addressed, but the advantages of the poor getting access to modern finance cannot be denied. A tool for identity mapping that was launched by the UPA in January 2009, Aadhaar was strengthened and institutionalised by the new government. The Unique Identification Authority of India was established as a central government agency with the objective of collecting the biometric and demographic data of residents, storing them in a centralised database, and issuing a 12-digit unique identity number called Aadhaar to each resident.”
Why relevant

States that UIDAI was created to collect biometric and demographic data of residents and issue Aadhaar numbers.

How to extend

A student could combine this with the external fact that 'biometric data' can include fingerprints and iris to infer that any UIDAI APIs might be designed to operate on stored biometric modalities.

Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Recent Reforms to Improve Public Distribution System > p. 337
Strength: 4/5
“So far, 88 per cent of FPSs in India have been automated through installation of ePoS (electronic point of sale) devices, thereby ensuring end-to-end computerisation. • 3. Digitisation of Ration Cards and their Aadhaar seeding to enable distribution of food grains to beneficiaries after biometric authentication.”
Why relevant

Describes Aadhaar seeding and use of 'biometric authentication' (for PDS/ePoS) to authenticate beneficiaries online at point-of-sale.

How to extend

Knowing that online biometric authentication is used operationally, a student could investigate which biometric modalities are supported by those authentication channels (fingerprint, iris) via API documentation or system specifications.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 2: Money and Banking- Part I > 10.Oversight of payment and settlement systems > p. 71
Strength: 4/5
“• Unified Payments Interface (UPI)• Aadhar Enabled Payment System (AEPS)• Rupay Cards• National Automatic Clearing House (ACH)• Linking of ATMs across India (some other operators are also involved)• National Electronic Toll collection (It provides an electronic payment facility to customer to make the payments at national, state and city toll plazas by identifying the vehicle uniquely through a FASTag) NPCI is a 'Not for Profit' company where 51% stake is owned by public sector banks.”
Why relevant

Lists AEPS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) among active systems, implying Aadhaar-based electronic authentication is used for financial transactions.

How to extend

Given AEPS relies on Aadhaar authentication, a student could check whether AEPS and similar services use UIDAI APIs and whether those APIs accept iris biometrics for online auth.

Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 8: Inclusive growth and issues > Presently, in India, identification of poor is done by the State Governments based on information from Below Poverty Line (BPL) censuses of which the latest is the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011). > p. 257
Strength: 3/5
“and Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana. It is also being used by several state governments to implement National Food Security Act. Use of SECC data in the implementation of Government programmes allows for evidence based developmental interventions. With the use of SECC data, the programme specific priority list is generated keeping in view the fiscal space of the welfare programme for targeting specific pro-poor interventions. The selection of beneficiaries gets validated through Gram Sabhas, while identity is established through Aadhaar wherever legally allowed. This leads to selection of right beneficiaries and minimizes duplication and fraud. This has substantially enhanced the effectiveness of government's efforts to tackle multidimensional poverty, going beyond income or expenditure-based poverty.”
Why relevant

Says identity is established through Aadhaar 'wherever legally allowed', implying varied uses of Aadhaar authentication across programmes.

How to extend

A student could infer that different programmes may use different authentication modalities and therefore should verify which modalities (including iris) are permitted or implemented via Aadhaar APIs.

Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 90: Landmark Judgements and Their Impact > K.S. PUTTASWAMY CASE (2017) > p. 641
Strength: 3/5
“In both the cases, the Supreme Court had held that the right to privacy is not protected by the Constitution. This judgement also clarified that the various judgements subsequent to Kharak Singh, which have recognized the fundamental right to privacy, lay down the correct position of law. Young Lawyers Association case<sup>26</sup>(2018), Joseph Shine case<sup>27</sup> (2018), Navtej Singh Johar case<sup>28</sup> (2018) and other cases. Based on this judgement, the Supreme Court delivered (in 2018) a separate judgement on the validity of Aadhaar law. This judgement is popularly known as the Aadhaar judgement or Puttaswamy-II judgement. In this judgement, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutional validity of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016”
Why relevant

Notes the Supreme Court upheld the Aadhaar Act, i.e., there is a legal framework governing Aadhaar's use.

How to extend

A student could use this to motivate checking legal/technical UIDAI publications that specify which biometric modalities are allowed for online authentication (and thus whether APIs expose iris auth).

Pattern takeaway: UPSC treats 'Digital Platforms' (UPI, ONDC, Aadhaar) as software products. You must understand their 'Features' (Open APIs, Interoperability) just like you study the features of a Constitutional body.
How you should have studied
  1. [THE VERDICT]: Technical Bouncer. While books mention Aadhaar, the specific API capabilities (Iris/Any Device) require 'Tech-Governance' awareness beyond standard polity texts.
  2. [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) & India Stack. The evolution from JAM Trinity to open digital platforms.
  3. [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 4 layers of India Stack: 1. Presenceless (Aadhaar Auth), 2. Paperless (eSign, DigiLocker), 3. Cashless (UPI), 4. Consent (Account Aggregators/DEPA). Know that Aadhaar Auth supports: Demographic, OTP, Fingerprint, Iris, and Face (added later).
  4. [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Adopt 'Functional Curiosity'. Don't just memorize the Aadhaar Act year. Ask: 'How does a private bank verify my ID instantly?' -> They call an API. 'What biometrics do they use?' -> Fingerprint or Iris. If the system is 'Open', it implies interoperability.
Concept hooks from this question
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Aadhaar integration with point-of-sale devices (ePoS)
💡 The insight

References document automation of fair price shops via ePoS and Aadhaar seeding for biometric authentication, showing Aadhaar is integrated with POS hardware for service delivery.

High-yield for UPSC: explains how identity systems are operationalised in public distribution and welfare delivery. Links Aadhaar to digital infrastructure, governance, and service delivery questions. Prepares aspirants to answer questions on technology-enabled subsidy reforms and device-level authentication.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Recent Reforms to Improve Public Distribution System > p. 337
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > One Nation one Ration Card (ONORC): > p. 297
🔗 Anchor: "Can Aadhaar's open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) be integrated into ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Aadhaar in financial services: AEPS and e-KYC
💡 The insight

Evidence names Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) and that e-KYC is possible only for those with Aadhaar numbers, indicating Aadhaar's role in banking/finance digital interfaces.

Important for questions on financial inclusion, digital payments, and regulatory frameworks. Connects Aadhaar to NPCI systems, bank KYC norms, and modern payment architecture — useful for answering policy impact and institutional questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 2: Money and Banking- Part I > 10.Oversight of payment and settlement systems > p. 71
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 8: Financial Market > Xinow Your Customer Norms > p. 227
🔗 Anchor: "Can Aadhaar's open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) be integrated into ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S1
👉 Aadhaar-enabled mobile/online service integration
💡 The insight

Text mentions government plans for farmers to transact online via mobile and integration of Aadhaar details in technology platforms like ONORC and e-NAM.

Useful for answering questions on digital agriculture and access to services via mobile platforms. Shows the extension of Aadhaar-linked authentication beyond brick-and-mortar devices to mobile/online systems, linking to topics on e-governance and rural tech adoption.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 10: Agriculture - Part I > 10.9.2 Electronic - National Agriculture Market (e-NAM) > p. 315
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 9: Subsidies > One Nation one Ration Card (ONORC): > p. 297
🔗 Anchor: "Can Aadhaar's open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) be integrated into ..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Aadhaar's collection of biometric and demographic data
💡 The insight

Whether iris-based online authentication is possible depends first on Aadhaar's role in collecting and storing biometric data for residents.

High-yield for UPSC: understanding what Aadhaar stores and its centralised database is essential for questions on digital identity, public service delivery and technology policy. It links to topics in governance (UIDAI), public service delivery (PDS, subsidies) and ICT in governance. Study official UIDAI descriptions and policy summaries to answer linked factual and analytical questions.

📚 Reading List :
  • Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 39: After Nehru... > Disbanding Planning Commission and Setting up NITI Aayog > p. 780
  • Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22) > Chapter 9: Agriculture > Recent Reforms to Improve Public Distribution System > p. 337
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 8: Inclusive growth and issues > Presently, in India, identification of poor is done by the State Governments based on information from Below Poverty Line (BPL) censuses of which the latest is the Socio-Economic Caste Census 2011 (SECC 2011). > p. 257
🔗 Anchor: "Do Aadhaar's open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) enable online authen..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Aadhaar-enabled services (AEPS) and authentication use-cases
💡 The insight

Practical applications like AEPS show how Aadhaar-based authentication is used for online/remote transactions and service delivery.

Important for economy/technology portions: AEPS is a recurrent example of biometric authentication in payments and financial inclusion. Mastering AEPS helps answer questions on digital payments, fintech policy and inclusion. Relate AEPS to broader payment infrastructure (UPI, NPCI) and to authentication mechanisms.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24) > Chapter 2: Money and Banking- Part I > 10.Oversight of payment and settlement systems > p. 71
🔗 Anchor: "Do Aadhaar's open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) enable online authen..."
📌 Adjacent topic to master
S2
👉 Legal and privacy framework around Aadhaar
💡 The insight

Use of biometric authentication (and APIs) raises privacy and legal issues; the Supreme Court's Aadhaar-related rulings shape permissible uses.

Crucial for polity: knowing landmark judgments (Puttaswamy/Aadhaar decisions) and privacy implications is frequently tested and needed for balanced policy answers. Connects to constitutional rights, data protection debates and governance of digital IDs.

📚 Reading List :
  • Indian Polity, M. Laxmikanth(7th ed.) > Chapter 90: Landmark Judgements and Their Impact > K.S. PUTTASWAMY CASE (2017) > p. 641
🔗 Anchor: "Do Aadhaar's open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) enable online authen..."
🌑 The Hidden Trap

The 'Beckn Protocol' behind ONDC. Just as Aadhaar APIs were the open standard for Identity, Beckn is the open standard for Commerce. Expect a question on 'Beckn Protocol' or 'Account Aggregator' framework (Consent Layer) next.

⚡ Elimination Cheat Code

The 'Definition Hack': Statement 1 uses the extreme word 'Any'. Usually, this is wrong. However, the term 'Open API' *technically defines* a software interface that is platform-agnostic. If it couldn't be integrated into 'any' compatible device, it wouldn't be called an 'Open API'. In Science/Tech definitions, technical universality often validates extreme wording.

🔗 Mains Connection

Links to GS-3 (Internal Security & Economy): Open APIs enable 'Financial Inclusion' (Mains point: JAM Trinity) but expand the 'Cyber Attack Surface' (Mains point: Data Privacy/Theft). This duality is the core of the Data Protection Bill debate.

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