New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India launched the Aadhaar mascot Udai to simplify public understanding of Aadhaar services, officials announced on Wednesday.
UIDAI said the Aadhaar mascot Udai would serve as a resident-facing communication companion. The mascot aims to make Aadhaar-related information more relatable and people-friendly. It will explain services such as updates, authentication, offline verification, selective data sharing, and responsible usage. Officials added that Udai would also support communication around new technology adoption.
UIDAI selected the Aadhaar mascot Udai through a national design and naming competition hosted on the MyGov platform. The authority received 875 entries from across the country, including submissions from students, designers, and professionals. A multi-tier evaluation process ensured fairness and rigour in the selection.
Arun Gokul from Thrissur in Kerala won the first prize in the mascot design competition. Idris Dawaiwala of Pune secured second place, while Krishna Sharma from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh won third place.
Riya Jain from Bhopal won the first prize in the mascot naming competition. Idris Dawaiwala and Maharaj Saran Chellapilla of Hyderabad secured the second and third positions respectively.
Aadhaar mascot Udai unveiled at UIDAI event
UIDAI Chairman Neelkanth Mishra unveiled the Aadhaar mascot Udai at a function held in Thiruvananthapuram. He also felicitated the competition winners during the event. Mishra said the mascot launch marked another step in making Aadhaar communication simpler and more inclusive for over a billion residents.
UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said the open national competition reaffirmed Aadhaar’s core principle that participation builds trust and acceptance. He noted that the overwhelming response reflected how strongly people connected with Aadhaar as a public good.
Deputy Director General Vivek C Verma said Udai would act as a companion and narrator for residents. He added that the mascot would help people access Aadhaar-related information with greater ease and clarity.
