Airtel Payments Bank and NPCI Introduce Facial Authentication for Aadhaar-enabled Payments

Airtel Payments Bank, one of India’s leading digital payment providers, has partnered with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to introduce facial authentication for Aadhaar-enabled payment systems. The move aims to provide a seamless and secure payment experience for customers, while also enhancing the digital payments infrastructure in the country.Under this new initiative, Airtel Payments Bank will enable customers to use their facial biometrics for transactions through Aadhaar-enabled payment systems (AEPS). AEPS is a government-backed payment system that enables customers to carry out transactions through their Aadhaar-linked bank accounts. The system uses the customer’s Aadhaar number and biometric data for authentication.With the introduction of facial authentication, customers will now be able to make transactions without having to use their fingerprint or Aadhaar number. This will not only make transactions faster and more convenient but also reduce the risk of transmission of infectious diseases in the current pandemic scenario.Facial authentication is a secure and user-friendly way of verifying the identity of the customer, as it uses advanced AI-based algorithms to match the facial features of the customer with the Aadhaar database. The technology is also designed to detect spoofing attempts or fraudulent activities, ensuring the safety and security of transactions.The partnership between Airtel Payments Bank and NPCI is expected to boost the adoption of digital payments in India, which has been on the rise in recent years. The government has been promoting digital payments as part of its push towards a cashless economy, and the ongoing pandemic has further accelerated the trend. The introduction of facial authentication is expected to further drive the adoption of digital payments, especially among the elderly and the visually impaired, who may find it difficult to use traditional authentication methods.In conclusion, the collaboration between Airtel Payments Bank and NPCI to introduce facial authentication for Aadhaar-enabled payments is a significant step towards making digital payments more accessible, convenient, and secure. The move will not only benefit customers but also help to strengthen the digital payments ecosystem in India. With the increasing adoption of digital payments in the country, such initiatives are likely to become more common in the future, making transactions more seamless and secure than ever before.