**Executive Summary**
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) launched "Udai (उदय)", the Aadhaar mascot, on January 8, 2026. Udai will serve as a resident-facing communication companion aimed at simplifying public understanding of Aadhaar services. Udai was selected following a national competition on the MyGov platform, with Arun Gokul from Kerala announced as the winner.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Mascot Launch & Purpose:**
* UIDAI launched Udai (उदय) as the official Aadhaar mascot.
* Udai will simplify public understanding of Aadhaar services.
* It will help make Aadhaar information more relatable and people-friendly.
* The mascot will aid in communicating updates, authentication, offline verification, selective information sharing, new technology adoption, and responsible usage of Aadhaar.
* **Mascot Selection Process:**
* UIDAI conducted a national design and name competition on the MyGov platform.
* 875 entries were received from students, professionals, and designers across the country.
* A multi-tier evaluation process was used to ensure fairness and rigour.
* **Winners:**
* Arun Gokul from Thrissur, Kerala won the mascot design competition.
* Riya Jain of Bhopal won the mascot name competition.
* **UIDAI Officials' Statements:**
* Neelkanth Mishra, Chairman UIDAI, unveiled the mascot at a UIDAI function in Thiruvananthapuram and said the mascot will simplify Aadhaar communication.
* Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO, UIDAI, stated the competition reaffirms participation builds trust and acceptance.
* Vivek C Verma, Deputy Director General, UIDAI said the mascot will help residents connect with Aadhaar information with ease.
**Impact Analysis**
**Residents of India**
* **Impact:** Residents of India will have a more relatable and easier-to-understand resource for Aadhaar-related information.
* **Action Required:** Residents are encouraged to engage with the mascot and utilize it as a resource for understanding Aadhaar services.
**UIDAI**
* **Impact:** UIDAI has a new communication tool to promote Aadhaar services and build trust with the public.
* **Action Required:** UIDAI will integrate the mascot into its communication strategies.
**Students, Professionals, Designers**
* **Impact:** Recognition for winning the competition.
* **Action Required:** Continue innovation.
Key Entities Referenced
UIDAI: The Unique Identification Authority of India, responsible for Aadhaar.
Aadhaar: India's national identification system.
Udai: The Aadhaar mascot launched by UIDAI.
MyGov Platform: Platform used to host the national competition for designing the Aadhaar mascot.
Ministry of Electronics & IT
Aadhaar gets a face: UIDAI launches Aadhaar
उदय
mascot Udai ( )
The mascot to be a resident-facing communication
companion to simplify public understanding of the Aadhaar
services
उदय
Udai ( ) selected following a national competition on
MyGov Platform, Arun Gokul from Kerala announced the
winner from 875 entries
प्रव तथ: 08 JAN 2026 3:06PM by PIB Delhi
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) today launched the Aadhaar mascot, a new resident-
facing communication companion to simplify public understanding of Aadhaar services. The Aadhaar
mascot named Udai (उदय) will be helpful in making Aadhaar-related information more relatable, and
people-friendly. It will simplify communication of Aadhaar services – whether it is about updates,
authentication, offline verification, selective sharing of information, new technology adoption, responsible
usage and many more.
To bring this vision to life, UIDAI chose an open and inclusive route by launching national design and
name competitions on the MyGov platform. The response was overwhelming. UIDAI received 875 entries
from across the country – students, professionals, designers, etc. – each offering a unique interpretation ofwhat Aadhaar represents to them. A multi-tier evaluation process was adopted to ensure fairness and
rigour in the selection process. What emerged from this process is a beautiful creation – that is shaped by
public imagination and refined through institutional diligence.
Arun Gokul from Thrissur, Kerala bagged the first prize in the mascot design competition, Idris
Dawaiwala of Pune, Maharashtra, and Krishna Sharma from Ghazipur in Uttar Pradesh were the second
and third prize winners respectively.
Riya Jain of Bhopal won the first prize in the mascot name competition, followed by Idris Dawaiwala of
Pune and Maharaj Saran Chellapilla of Hyderabad in the second and third position respectively.
Neelkanth Mishra, Chairman UIDAI unveiled the mascot and felicitated the winners at a UIDAI function
in Thiruvananthapuram. The launch of the mascot marks another step in UIDAI’s ongoing efforts to make
Aadhaar communication simpler, more inclusive, and more relatable for over a billion residents of India,
said Mishra UIDAI Chairman.
Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO, UIDAI said that by inviting people for designing and naming this mascot through
an open national competition, UIDAI reaffirmed a core principle of Aadhaar: participation builds trust and
acceptance. The overwhelming response demonstrated how deeply people connect with Aadhaar as a
public good.
Vivek C Verma, Deputy Director General, UIDAI said that as the mascot begins its journey as a
companion and a narrator, it will help residents connect with Aadhaar related information with ease.
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