Aadhaar 2025: L1 Certification now mandatory for all Registered Devices in India

2. October 2025

As of January 1, 2025, only Level-1 (L1) certified Registered Devices (RD) are permitted for Aadhaar authentication in India. Aadhaar is the country’s national digital identity system, which uses biometric and demographic data to provide residents with a unique 12-digit identification number. This shift marks a full transition from the earlier Level-0 (L0) devices to the more secure and standardized L1 category. Manufacturers and importers are now required to complete the migration, which includes adapting firmware, secure element (SE) designs, and PCH components to meet the updated specifications. The Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC) authority oversees this transition and continues to operate the Biometric Device Certification Scheme (BDCS), which also includes certification processes for QR code scanners. RD devices usually require STQC certification in order to be approved for import and sale in India.

The move to L1 aims to strengthen the security and integrity of Aadhaar-based biometric authentication by enforcing uniform compliance across device hardware and software. Manufacturers must align with the latest guidelines issued by UIDAI, which define the updated performance and data protection standards under the Registered Devices 2.0 framework.

If you are interested in understanding what requirements are needed for your product to be imported into India, please do not hesitate to contact us by email or phone (Europe: +49-69-271 37 69 261, US: +1 773 654-2673). If a certification need is discovered we can provide a quotation to make sure that all your certification needs are covered.

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