The sunset of L0 biometric devices is going to be a landmark event in the digital transformation journey of UIDAI, where all the required upgrades will be done by the organisations themselves with L1 biometric technology before 31st December 2024. The whole list of L0 devices that are being phased out and why they're being phased, the market implications of stopping these devices, and the benefits when turning on L1 devices all are well discussed in this blog.
The Unique Identification Authority of India is requesting organizations to replace all L0 fingerprint-registered devices with L1 devices. This is against the backdrop of improving the security of Aadhaar-based authentication. Here's why:
Improved Security
The L1 devices are much more secure than the L0 devices, which have been a bit worrisome as far as the securing of sensitive data, including biometric data. The L1 devices are said to ensure the highest level of encryption for data, stored and in the process of being processed, to its users.
Speed and Precision
L1 devices fasten and expedite the authentication processes, too. New technology in L1 devices, enables quicker recognition and lesser authentication failure rates, thereby augmenting Aadhaar-based services to be more efficient.
Regulatory Compliance
According to the latest guidelines of UIDAI, the use of L1 devices ensures that the organizations comply with standards as expected by regulatory requirements. Failure to upgrade shall involve penalties and hampered working.
Enhanced User Experience
L1 devices provide consumers with a smooth process of authentication with reduced error rates and, in general, a process friendlier to the user.
The UIDAI has further extended the time limit for the migration from L0 to L1 devices up to December 31, 2024. It would provide more time for the organizations being migrated to L1 devices. L1 devices have played a crucial role in ensuring integrity and security concerning Aadhaar authentication across all sectors.
Biometric devices play a critical role in capturing biometric data, above all, fingerprints and iris are the two areas considered more reliable for identity verification compared to documents or PINs. The adoption of L1 technology is an imperative step towards securing this with robust, secure, and efficient biometric authentication across the Aadhaar ecosystem.
the time till which the L0 devices were scheduled to be phased out is extended up to 31 December 2024. This extension has been given by UIDAI considering that the requesting entities have been granted more time to shift to L1 devices. It is highly critical to shift from the L0 to L1 fingerprint devices to enhance Aadhaar authentication systems further.
L1 devices offer enhanced protection for biometric data, improved regulatory compliance, and a better user experience. In light of this, this change will affect the services relying on the key ones, such as AEPS, eKYC, and attendance systems, where upgrading becomes inevitable for the organizations depending on the utilization of these services.
All L0 RD devices will be disabled from a digital signature after 30 September 2024; otherwise, transactions executed through L0s shall be declined. One needs to consult official UIDAI documentation for technical specifications and details about the L1 device.
There are a few L0 biometric devices very widely deployed, which will not support the Aadhaar authentication. The spectrum of deployment of such devices is spread across every sector - banking, Government services, telecom, and corporate offices.
Companies Modules ID
Linkwell Telesystems v-fK.GL11.A400.E
Integra Micro Systems IMS.PAX.A4OO.A
Integra Micro Systems IMS.OAS.CBME3.E
Integra Micro Systems IMS.IMS.MFlOO.W
Integra Micro Systems IMS.IMS.MFlOO.A
Secugen India HU2OA
Smartchip India 293658783
Secugen India HUlO
Evolute Systems EVOLUTEFPS4.600
Linkwell Telesystems vTK.Q2POS.TCS1S
Integra Micro Systems TMS.AQT.TCSlS.A
Evolute Systems LEOPARD
Evolute Systems FALCON
Bioenable Tech BIOENABLE BIOENABLE. BETPV
Companies Models
Integra Micro Systems Pvt Ltd IMS.IMS.13OOE.W
Integra Micro Systems Pvt Ltd IMS.IMS.CSD2.W
Precision Biometric India Pvt Ltd PBCS2OO
Matrix Comsec Pvt Ltd MCP.FAX.5OOOH.E
Matrix Comsec Pvt Ltd MCP.FOT.5OOOH.E
Aadhaar-based authentication has been the most important vital ingredient for the growth of the biometric device market in India. The market size for biometric devices in India has been pegged at INR 21,541.1 Crores and this is expected to grow multi-folds with the upcoming shift that is now almost mandatory into L1 devices, more so now since 2023.
Increased Demand for L1 Devices
As the deadline for the phase-out of the L0 is fast approaching, the demand for L1-compliant biometric devices is going to be highly expected. The L1 devices would then be in very high demand from government agencies and all the financial and private organizations by the manufacturers and distributors.
Supply Chain Challenges
The outcome would be a demand shock that could be more than the supply chain can bear, and the outcome would be shortages and most probably higher prices for L1 devices. Manufacturer firms will have no choice but to increase production in the coming period as they respond to the surge in system upgrades by the organizations.
Business Opportunities for New Players
It is here, which can allow some new entrants in the market to make an entry by offering compliant devices or services like installation, software integration, and maintenance. Companies that can take on the demand for L1 devices are likely to grow a lot.
Operational Costs
Those organizations that fail to shift eventually to L1 devices will have higher operational inefficiencies. Continued use of L0 devices will slow the speed and accuracy of transactions, mainly in industries like finance that often make biometric transactions. Long-term use of L0 devices will become no longer viable because they will not achieve the level of performance and security required, which often leads to frequent breakdowns and more expensive maintenance costs.
Banking and Financial Sector
Most severely affected by the L0 ban is the banking sector. L0 devices form a high percentage of AEPS uses whereby customers make transactions based solely on biometric data. Banks have no choice but to hasten their transition to L1 devices if they are to continue delivering services unhampered. Banks delay will translate to interrupted services and higher costs as fees on L0 device transactions rise.
Government Services
Aadhaar-based authentication is used for authenticating beneficiaries. The public distribution system, which is extended to millions of citizens in terms of essential commodities, uses L0 devices for Aadhaar verification purposes at the distribution level. If this process does not get upgraded to L1 at present, then it will amount to a stop in the delivery of service to millions of people.
Private Sector and Corporate Applications
Telecom companies, fintech firms, and corporate offices, using biometric devices for customer onboarding, eKYC, and attendance tracking are also to fall in line now. The private sector will have to toe the line of regulations with UIDAI; otherwise, services will be affected.
Education and Healthcare
Many educational institutions have applied biometric devices to their attendance systems, and patient verification applications for healthcare service providers will also require L1 devices to comply with Aadhaar authentication requirements.
Normally, L1 devices are advanced compared to their predecessors, L0 because they have the following advantages over the latter: Much more accurate in comparison to that of L0 devices. L1 devices process much faster compared to L0 devices. Much more secure since they make use of more sophisticated techniques as compared to L0 devices. Knowing this, here are some of the most sought-after L1-compliant biometric devices currently found in the market:
Mantra MFS 100
The Mantra MFS 100 L1 USB Fingerprint Scanner offers high-end accuracy in biometric matching and authentication reliability along with an ergonomic design with broad OS compatibility.
Morpho MSO1300 E3
Morpho MSO 1300 e3 L1 Fingerprint Scanner offers a high level of security in identity verification, appropriate for government and banking purposes, eKYC support, and interoperability with Windows 10 and Android 7+.
StarTek FM220 U
The fingerprint scanner Startek FM220 U L1 ensures the signing of safe data related to biometrics while employing MOSIP and UIDAI L1 standards.
Secugen HPRO 20 AP
SecuGen Hamster Pro 20 AP is a compact USB fingerprint reader that possesses high image quality, STQC, and FBI certification, which has IP65 dust and waterproof along with fake finger rejection.
The most convincing reasons for any institution to upgrade the technology from L0 to L1 include biometric authentication systems and support for customers.
L1 Device
Security - Devices that fall under L1 are safer and can effectively reduce the likelihood of compromised biometric data. L1 is embedded with fingerprint liveness checks; this will ensure that authentication is genuine and cannot be spoofed.
Compliance - Organizations using L1 devices will adhere to the rules and regulations set by UIDAI thus avoiding penalties and a hassle-free running of uninterrupted service. Organizations adopting L1 technology would comply with stringent standards for Aadhaar-based authentication systems.
User Experience - L1 devices provide the customer and staff an even smotherer and much more efficient authentication experience. In both directions, it provides greater accuracy and a faster response time, thereby making for improved overall functionality of biometric systems, all the more so for key sectors like banking and government services.
L1 Technical Support
Adoption of L1 technology doesn't merely incorporate the devices but also the L1 technical support:
Customer Support - L1 technical support is first-level support that gives people easy ways to solve quite common IT problems. This means problems get identified and resolved quickly and increases the customer experience.
Support Costs - Organizations save costs through L1 technical support. The earlier filtering of problems prevents issues from going up the higher-level technical teams hence saving unnecessary time and resource usage which of course improves operational efficiency.
Collaboration - L1 support systems enhance interaction between users and technical teams through clear procedures and channels of communication. The well-organized approach will ensure that technical problems will be solved faster with fewer interruptions.
Automation and GenAI
L1 automation continues to drive big improvement in support and operational efficiency through generative AI, or GenAI.
Automation - Solutions powered by GenAI can automate quite a variety of tasks. Whether it is answering simple questions or more complex troubleshooting, this suggests that human operators will have less burden, and it might allow support teams to focus on more critical problems.
Embracing L1 technology represents a tangible step forward toward improved security, compliance, and user experience while marking significant improvements within the infrastructure of support and operational efficiency through automation tools.
This is an essential evolution step toward catching up with today's changing digital ecosystem.
RD Purchase Requirement
This is essentially not an option but a necessary process for any organization planning to use biometric devices for Aadhaar-based authentication. The device simply cannot function within the Aadhaar ecosystem without the RD service. This simply means that it is completely impossible to carry out operations such as AEPS transactions, eKYC, or even attendance logging.
The RD service registers the biometric device with UIDAI and is built on encryption abilities with an additional layer of security in offering its data. This is sensitive information that requires crucial protection for the user and the integrity of the authentication process. Relieved, this has not changed much despite when organisations shifted to the use of L1 technology; the cost of RD services stayed the same, thus a consistent and manageable cost when a prudent organization comes to consider these costs. Hence, an active RD subscription would not be a matter of mere necessity but an investment that has critical implications as far as the proper functioning and security of biometric systems is concerned.
Conclusion
It is that very significant juncture in the endeavour by UIDAI towards making an Aadhaar authentication environment much safer and effective. The silver lining is that there'll be a critical window for the upgradation of systems, realignment to new regulatory standards, and amelioration of user experience altogether least in theory; whether the deadline is as early as December 31, 2024, is immaterial. The L0 devices, phased out and replaced, played important roles in various sectors, but with the advent of L1 technology, one will be glad to know that this new technology promises to significantly improve matters in security, speed, and accuracy.
L1 compliance is boosting the biometric device market, and organizations should quickly act to avoid disruption in their operations and higher costs attributed to old technology. The acceptance of L1 devices ensures the safe handling of sensitive biometric data besides having a positive influence on the smooth running of critical services in the banking, government, and private sectors. Spending on RD services would remain a good imperative for secure and efficient biometric operations.
This approach helps organizations avoid unexpected financial burdens while focusing on the essential need to enhance security and regulatory compliance.
The Unique Identification Authority of India describes the L0 Device Ban as the cleaning of the Aadhaar authentication system from all outdated fingerprint devices, thus deleting them.
To ascertain whether it is L0 or L1, first verify the model number and firmware version. Crosscheck the same details with the certified device list issued by UIDAI.
if it classifies your device as L0, you would need to plan for upgrading the same to become L1 shortly so that you would not be in a non-compliant state with the UIDAI regulations and thus can ensure secure Aadhaar authentication.
To come from L0 devices to L1 devices one needs to purchase an L1 device, and after that get it registered through RD service from UIDAI and then include it in his system.
