The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Thursday launched the Aadhaar mascot, named Udai (उदय), as a resident-facing communication companion aimed at simplifying public understanding of Aadhaar services.UIDAI said the mascot will help make Aadhaar-related information more relatable and people-friendly. Udai is expected to support clearer communication on services such as Aadhaar updates, authentication, offline verification, selective data sharing, adoption of new technologies, and responsible usage.UIDAI selected the mascot through an open national design and naming competition conducted on the MyGov platform. The authority received 875 entries from across the country, including submissions from students, professionals, and designers. A multi-tier evaluation process was used to shortlist and finalise the winning entries.
Arun Gokul from Thrissur, Kerala, won the first prize in the mascot design competition. Idris Dawaiwala from Pune, Maharashtra, and Krishna Sharma from Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, secured the second and third positions, respectively. In the mascot naming competition, Riya Jain from Bhopal won the first prize, followed by Idris Dawaiwala from Pune and Maharaj Saran Chellapilla from Hyderabad.UIDAI Chairman Neelkanth Mishra unveiled the mascot and felicitated the winners at a UIDAI function held in Thiruvananthapuram. He said the launch marks another step in UIDAI’s efforts to make Aadhaar communication simpler, more inclusive, and more relatable for India’s residents.Bhuvnesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of UIDAI, said the open competition reflected a core principle of Aadhaar that public participation builds trust and acceptance. He added that the strong response highlighted the public’s connection with Aadhaar as a public good.Vivek C Verma, Deputy Director General, UIDAI, said the mascot will act as a companion and narrator, helping residents access Aadhaar-related information more easily.
