A major update has been announced for the Aadhaar card, which serves as the identity for every citizen in India. To make Aadhaar more approachable, UIDAI has introduced an official mascot named “Uday.”
People often have questions about Aadhaar, such as how to update their address, verify details, or solve other issues. Many hesitate to ask directly. Uday is designed to bridge this gap and make communication easier.
Uday was unveiled on January 8, 2026, during events in Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram. What makes this mascot unique is that it was created and named by the general public, not by any agency.
This reflects how Digital India’s biggest initiative is now driven by public participation.
Who Is Uday?
According to UIDAI, Uday is not just a cartoon, but a companion for millions of Indians. With Uday, complex Aadhaar processes can be explained in a simple and engaging way.
Uday will guide users on:
How to update your photo or address in Aadhaar
How to lock your biometrics
Understanding paperless offline verification
How to use Aadhaar securely
The National Competition That Created Uday
Uday came to life through a national design and naming competition hosted on the MyGov portal. 875 entries were received from students, professionals, and designers across India.
Entries were carefully evaluated to choose a mascot that represents both Indian culture and modern technology.
Design Competition Winners:
First Prize: Arun Gokul (Thrissur, Kerala) – created Uday’s current form
Second Prize: Idris Dawaiwala (Pune, Maharashtra)
Third Prize: Krishna Sharma (Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh)
Naming Competition Winners:
First Prize: Riya Jain (Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh) – suggested the name “Uday”
Second Prize: Idris Dawaiwala (Pune)
Third Prize: Maharaj Saran Chellapilla (Hyderabad)
How to Interact With Uday
To talk to Uday, visit the UIDAI website: https://uidai.gov.in. On the homepage, you will find the Aadhaar mascot in the lower right corner. Simply click on it to start interacting.
