The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) oversees the Aadhaar program, considered the largest biometric ID system globally. Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number that is obtained voluntarily by all residents of India. Aadhaar data consists of demographic information and biometric data (fingerprints, iris scans, and a photograph of the face). Aadhaar numbers have been issued to over 1.11 billion Indian residents. This article is a review of the challenges associated with privacy, legal frameworks, societal acceptance, and the implications of using Aadhaar data for potential benefits in forensic investigation and the assessment of Aadhaar for investigation in routine criminal and civil cases. This review has highlighted the advantages of using UIDAI data for the immediate identification of anonymous dead bodies and also individuals accused of criminal acts while addressing the ethical, medicolegal, and sociocultural issues.
Karmakar et al. (2026) studied this question.