India’s Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced a new Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) system to enable fully digital generation and activation of Universal Account Numbers (UANs) via the UMANG mobile app. The system allows employees to complete verification independently—without employer intervention—by using facial recognition matched to their Aadhaar records. This initiative marks a major shift in EPFO’s digital transformation efforts.
The FAT system is designed to address longstanding inefficiencies in the UAN activation process. In fiscal year 2024–2025, only 35.3 percent of the 12.6 million UANs issued were successfully activated—approximately 4.47 million in total—largely due to data entry errors and dependency on employers for validation. The new system streamlines this process, allowing Aadhaar-linked individuals to authenticate themselves in real time using facial biometrics and activate their accounts instantly.
To complete the process, users must install both the UMANG app and the AadhaarFaceRD app from the Google Play Store. Once installed, users can initiate the UAN activation flow by entering their Aadhaar number, validating a one-time password (OTP) sent to their registered mobile number, and capturing a live facial scan that is verified against Aadhaar’s biometric database. The system supports both employee-initiated and employer-initiated UAN generation through the UMANG platform.
Following successful activation, users gain immediate access to various EPFO services, including passbook viewing, KYC updates, and claim submissions. The FAT system also builds on broader Aadhaar infrastructure enhancements, such as the biometric data locking feature, which helps safeguard user privacy and prevent identity misuse.
In addition to employees, the EPFO is extending this facial authentication capability to pensioners via the Jeevan Pramaan digital life certificate system. With support from My Bharat volunteers, pensioners will be able to complete life certificate submissions from their homes using face authentication, further enhancing accessibility for elderly citizens.
These developments are part of a broader push to expand biometric verification across India’s digital public infrastructure, echoing similar Aadhaar-based integrations in SIM card activation and welfare payment programs. Additional onboarding simplifications—such as removing the requirement to upload a canceled cheque or scanned bank passbook—underscore EPFO’s commitment to reducing friction in employee registration and benefits access.
While the system is a step forward in terms of inclusion, security, and user autonomy, it also raises questions about the long-term risks of biometric authentication at scale. Experts have highlighted concerns regarding potential spoofing, infrastructure reliability, and the need for strong data protection frameworks to support such systems. Nonetheless, EPFO’s deployment represents a significant advancement in digitizing employee benefits with minimal friction.
Sources: The Economic Times, DDNews
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April 9, 2025 – by Ji-seo Kim
