New Delhi, April 8: Employees can now generate and activate their Universal Account Number (UAN) through facial recognition using the UMANG mobile app, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Tuesday, calling it a “major step” toward contactless and secure digital service delivery.
“Face authentication will not only simplify UAN generation but also improve security and eliminate dependency on intermediaries,” he told reporters in New Delhi.
The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has enabled Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) for both employees and employers to allot or activate UANs. Once verified, the UAN is sent via SMS to the mobile number linked with the user’s Aadhaar, and users can download the UAN card directly from the UMANG app or EPFO member portal.
Mandaviya said members who already have a UAN but haven’t activated it can now do so through the same app. “Biometric face authentication provides better security compared to OTP or demographic-based logins,” he said, adding that the shift would unlock a wide range of self-service options in the future without needing employers or regional offices.
In the next phase, the EPFO will use the technology to roll out doorstep digital life certificates for pensioners, supported by MY Bharat youth volunteers.
The minister also announced that six districts in Bihar — Araria, Saharsa, Aurangabad, Banka, East Champaran and Gopalganj — have been fully notified under the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC).
