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THE Unique Identification Authority of India’s ( UIDAI) project to assign 16- digit identification ( ID) numbers to all residents will now be known as ‘ Aadhaar’ ( foundation) and the authority has a new logo.

UIDAI chairperson Nandan Nilekani said the change of name became necessary because common people were finding it hard to name the authority’s project correctly.

“ UID itself is very confusing.

Some people call it DUI, some call it IUD. It was difficult to explain the acronym. We wanted a name that could effectively communicate its potential and promise to residents.

We wanted a name with national appeal, was easy to remember and speak and applied to different languages,” Nilekani said at a seminar organised by the authority on Monday.

Aadhaar means foundation.

It has been entrusted an ambitious project to assign 16- digit unique ID numbers to all residents in India.

Nilekani also unveiled the authority’s new logo — a yellow sun with a fingerprint embedded in its centre. The authority had invited entries for the logo as part of a competition.

The winner of the contest, Mumbai- based Atul Sudhakarrao Pande, was given a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh at the function.