New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Thursday introduced ‘Udai’, a new mascot designed to simplify Aadhaar-related information and make it more accessible to residents across the country.
UIDAI said Udai will serve as a resident-facing communication companion and become the recognisable face of Aadhaar. Explaining the idea behind the initiative, UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said mascots help improve recognition and recall, much like other well-known public brands. “Aadhaar has given identity to everyone, but until now, Aadhaar itself did not have an identity. Now, Aadhaar has an identity,” he said.
Udai will feature across Aadhaar platforms, including the Aadhaar app and official portal, and will be used to assist users in navigating services and understanding information more easily. The government is also preparing to launch a new Aadhaar app on January 28, which is observed as UIDAI Day. The app is currently undergoing testing.
The mascot was selected through a nationwide design and naming competition conducted on the MyGov platform. According to UIDAI, the competition received 875 entries from students, designers, and professionals across India, which were evaluated through a multi-stage selection process.
Udai was officially unveiled at an event in Thiruvananthapuram by UIDAI chairman Neelkanth Mishra, who also felicitated the competition winners. Mishra said the mascot reflects UIDAI’s efforts to make Aadhaar communication more inclusive and relatable.
Deputy Director General Vivek C Verma described Udai as a companion and narrator that will help residents better connect with Aadhaar-related information as it rolls out across platforms.
In the design category, Arun Gokul from Thrissur, Kerala, won the first prize, while Idris Dawaiwala from Pune and Krishna Sharma from Ghazipur secured second and third places. For naming the mascot, Riya Jain from Bhopal won the top prize, followed by Idris Dawaiwala and Maharaj Saran Chellapilla from Hyderabad.