Aadhaar and Personal Data: A Survey on Privacy Concerns and Security Awareness

In recent years, Aadhaar has become one of the largest biometric identification systems globally, encompassing over a billion residents of India. While it has facilitated access to various government and private services, concerns about data privacy and security have persisted. This paper provides an overview of the Aadhaar system, explores the associated privacy issues and surveys the level of security awareness among users. Also, it discusses the regulatory framework designed to protect personal data and analyzes whether it is sufficient to mitigate emerging threats. Additionally, it analyzes the mechanisms for data protection, identifies vulnerabilities, explores public sentiment and legal challenges and provides recommendations for enhancing security and safeguarding user privacy.