In a major confusion, Android phone users in India are quite surprised and even shocked to find that a UIDAI Helpline was pre-installed into their phones. This has understandably raised privacy concerns.

Much to relief, Google has cleared all confusion by issuing a statement. It admitted to accidentally infusing the number in 2014."Our internal review has revealed that in 2014, the then UIDAI helpline number and the 112 distress helpline number were inadvertently coded into the SetUp wizard of the Android release given to OEMs for use in India and has remained there since. Since the numbers get listed on a user’s contact list these get transferred accordingly to the contacts on any new device," Google said on Saturday.

The UIDAI Helpline seen in Android phones is an invalid one. The real toll-free number is 1947.

Is everything fine now? Not for some, at least for the Congress party. "Google's explanation just does not wash. How did a 2014 update manifest itself in 2018 after 4 years? How come no one discovered an unauthorized addition into their phones for such a long time? Strange! Was google up to mischief using UIDAI as a cat's paw? "asked Manish Tiwari, the national spokesperson of the Congress.

On its part, UIDAI has issued a clarification. "It is clarified that, UIDAI has not asked or communicated to any manufacturer or service provider for providing any such facility whatsoever," it said.