UIDAI: the statutory authority that issues Aadhaar numbers to residents of India

Background

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory authority established under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 on 12 July 2016.
It functions under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
The Aadhaar Act 2016 was amended by the Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019, with effect from 25.07.2019.
UIDAI was created to issue Unique Identification numbers (UID), named Aadhaar, to all residents of India.
The number had to be robust enough to eliminate duplicate and fake identities and verifiable and authenticable in an easy, cost-effective way.
Under the Act, UIDAI is responsible for Aadhaar enrolment and authentication, including operation and management of all stages of the Aadhaar life cycle.
Its page says it traces its origins to the 2006 UID initiatives.