Aadhaar Face Authentication For UAN: EPFO Introduces New Digital Process For Employees, Here's How It Works

The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced a groundbreaking feature allowing employees to generate and activate their Universal Account Number (UAN) using Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT). This move is aimed at improving the user experience and eliminating common errors associated with UAN generation.

Previous Challenges in UAN Generation

Earlier, UAN generation was typically handled by employers, which led to frequent errors in personal information such as names, mobile numbers, and other details. Moreover, employers often failed to share UAN details with their employees, causing delays in UAN activation. In FY 2024-25, despite the allotment of over 1.26 crore UANs, only 35% of them were activated due to the complicated activation process that involved using Aadhaar OTPs. This resulted in limited access to EPFO services.

Introducing the Face Authentication Process

With the new system, employees can now directly generate and activate their UAN via the UMANG app, without needing employer intervention. To do so, employees need to download both the UMANG and AadhaarFaceRD apps. The process is simple and can be completed in a few steps:

- Install both apps from the Play Store.

- Open UMANG, navigate to “UAN Allotment and Activation” under UAN services.

- Enter Aadhaar number and linked mobile number.

- Provide consent and validate OTP.

- Capture a live photo using the device’s camera.

- The system matches the photo with Aadhaar records, generating the UAN, which is sent via SMS.

- Once the UAN is generated, it is automatically activated, and the employee can immediately download their e-UAN card.

Key Benefits of the New System

The new Aadhaar-based face authentication system offers several advantages:

100 per cent Identity Validation: Face matching ensures the correct identification of employees.

Mobile Number Verification: The mobile number linked to Aadhaar is auto-verified.

No Employer Involvement: Employees can independently generate and activate their UAN.

Instant Activation: UAN is activated during the generation process, allowing instant access to EPFO services such as passbook viewing, KYC updates, and claim submissions.

Error Reduction: The new system minimizes common errors and delays in UAN onboarding.

Expanding the System for Pensioners

The EPFO also plans to extend face authentication to pensioners. In collaboration with My Bharat, youth volunteers will assist pensioners in submitting digital life certificates using Jeevan Pramaan, bringing the benefits of digitalization to the elderly at their doorstep.