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On January 1, 2025, Bhuvnesh Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, assumed the role of CEO of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). He also serves as Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY). Kumar succeeds Amit Agrawal, a 1993-batch IAS officer who was recently appointed Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals.
UIDAI, which oversees Aadhaar, plays a critical role in India’s digital identity ecosystem, contributing significantly to governance and service delivery. Under Kumar’s leadership, UIDAI is expected to continue driving innovation in Aadhaar services and enhancing its integration into India’s digital infrastructure.
Key Highlights
1. Leadership Transition
New CEO: Bhuvnesh Kumar took charge as UIDAI CEO on January 1, 2025.
Dual Role: Continues as Additional Secretary at MEITY.
Predecessor: Amit Agrawal, now Secretary, Department of Pharmaceuticals.
2. Professional Background of Bhuvnesh Kumar
Central Government Roles:
Additional Secretary and Joint Secretary, MEITY.
State-Level Roles in Uttar Pradesh:
Principal Secretary, Departments of Animal Husbandry, Dairy Development, and Fisheries.
Secretary, Departments of Finance and Technical Education.
Divisional Commissioner, Department of Land Revenue.
Secretary, Planning, Vocational Education, and Sports & Youth Welfare.
3. Aadhaar Milestones
Cumulative Enrolments: Over 1.41 billion individuals registered.
Updates and Corrections: 1.07 billion cases processed.
Routine Authentications: Over 1.27 billion transactions conducted.
e-KYC Verifications: More than 21.8 billion verifications completed.
4. Recent Aadhaar Trends
Saturation Point: New enrolments fell below one million for the first time in October 2024.
December 2024 Data: Only 9.3 lakh new Aadhaar numbers were generated.
Significance of Appointment
Kumar’s extensive administrative experience at both state and central levels positions him well to steer UIDAI.
Focus areas under his leadership include:
Streamlining Aadhaar services.
Enhancing digital governance.
Expanding the use of Aadhaar for service delivery and authentication.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) in Competitive Exams:
Q1. Who has been appointed as the CEO of UIDAI on January 1, 2025?
(a) Amit Agrawal
(b) Bhuvnesh Kumar
(c) Rajesh Singh
(d) Sanjay Malhotra
Answer: (b) Bhuvnesh Kumar
Q2. Who did Bhuvnesh Kumar succeed as the CEO of UIDAI?
(a) Sanjay Malhotra
(b) Amit Agrawal
(c) Rajesh Verma
(d) Gaurav Gupta
Answer: (b) Amit Agrawal
Q3. As of 2024, what is the approximate total number of Aadhaar enrolments in India?
(a) 1.21 billion
(b) 1.41 billion
(c) 1.07 billion
(d) 1.27 billion
Answer: (b) 1.41 billion