Udai: Meet the New Official
Aadhaar Mascot by UIDAI
The mascot Udai (उदय) was officially unveiled by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on January 8, 2026.
Design & Origin
The Creator: The visual design was created by Arun Gokul from Thrissur, Kerala.
The Namer: The name "Udai" was proposed by Riya Jain from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Public Participation: Both were selected through a national competition on the MyGov platform that received 875 entries.
Purpose and Role
Resident Companion: Udai acts as a "communication companion" to simplify complex Aadhaar services like updates, authentication, and offline verification.
Digital Guide: The mascot is the face of the revamped Aadhaar app launched in late January 2026, helping users navigate security features like "selective sharing" of data.
Humanising Governance: Its primary goal is to make technical information more relatable and people-friendly, specifically to build trust among children, youth, and elderly citizens.
Who is Udai?
The Identity: It is the official mascot (like a logo that looks like a person) of the UIDAI (the people who run Aadhaar). Official Launch Details.
The Name: "Udai" sounds like the organization's name (UIDAI) and also means "Rising" in Hindi, symbolizing a new start for digital help.
2. Why was it created?
To Stop Confusion: Many people find Aadhaar updates (like changing an address or updating fingerprints) confusing. Udai’s job is to explain these things in simple language.
To Build Trust: Since there are many scams, Udai is used as a "Verified Guide." If you see Udai on a poster or app, you know the information is officially from the government. UIDAI Safety Guide.
To Reach Everyone: It uses pictures and simple stories to help people who cannot read well or are not good with mobile phones.
3. How was Udai "Born"?
Created by Citizens: The government didn't just hire a big company; they asked regular Indians for help.
The Drawing: A student from Kerala designed how Udai looks.
The Name: A student from Madhya Pradesh came up with the name.
Where to find it: You will see Udai on the new Aadhaar App, at Aadhaar Kendra offices, and in TV ads explaining why kids need to update their biometrics at ages 5 and 15.
Why is this important for UPSC?
It is a great example of "Citizen-Centric Governance." Instead of just giving orders, the government is trying to communicate better with its citizens to make life easier for them.
Best 20 MCQ mock test on udai current Affairs consolidation for january 2026 useful for Civil Services exam
(a) Progress or Dawn
(b) Security or Trust
(c) Identity or Number
(d) Verification or Check
(a) Senior citizens
(b) First-time users
(c) Residents in remote areas
(d) All of the above
(a) Prime Minister Narendra Modi
(b) Home Minister Amit Shah
(c) Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw
(d) Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman
(a) Railway stations
(b) Private bank ATMs
(c) The new Aadhaar mobile application
(d) International airports
(a) Thiruvananthapuram
(b) New Delhi
(c) Lucknow
(d) Bhopal
(a) Ages 2 and 10 years
(b) Ages 8 and 18 years
(c) Ages 5 and 15 years
(d) Ages 1 and 21 years
(a) A red hat and scarf
(b) A QR code and a smartphone
(c) A physical Aadhaar card
(d) A laptop and a calculator
(a) enforce strict penalties for misuse
(b) increase government control
(c) promote responsible usage
(d) mandate a single language for communication
(a) The IT Act, 2000
(b) The Indian Constitution
(c) The Aadhaar Act, 2016
(d) The Digital India Act
📝 Mains 2026 Value Addition: The launch of the Udai mascot is a prime example of "Citizen-Centric Governance" and "Humanising DPI."
Understand how mascot-driven communication bridges the digital divide and enhances trust in public systems.
Read our detailed notes for GS Paper II & III:
#UPSC2026 #CivilServices #DigitalPublicInfrastructure #Governance
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