(a) Whether Government has conducted any study during the last six months to allay
the fears on the utility of the UID number from various quarters;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the nature of apprehensions expressed in this regard and the other measures
being taken to remove such apprehensions?
MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES (DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)
(a) to (c) : A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (c) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 108 REGARDING UTILITY OF UID BY DR. RATNA DE
(NAG) TO BE ANSWERED ON 21.03.2012
(a) to (c): The UIDAI project was rolled out on September 29, 2010. Questions by different
stakeholders have been raised from time to time in the past regarding utility of Aadhaar. The
Standing Committee on Finance has, inter alia, given its observations on giving number to every
resident and not restricting the Unique Identification scheme to citizens, reliability of
technology, privacy issues, legislative safeguards for data protection and duplication of
work with the National Population Register exercise.
The Government has initiated the UIDAI project to create a robust platform for public
service delivery. The utility of Aadhaar or the UID number as an identity infrastructure and the
foundation over which multiple services and applications can be built is widely appreciated and
recognized. Many of the concerns raised by the Standing Committee have been already taken
care of by the Government. The issue of duplication between RGI and UIDAI has been
addressed by the Cabinet. The observations and recommendations of the Standing Committee
are being considered by the Government with a view to taking suitable action.
The National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) was awarded a study by UIDAI
on July 19, 2011 to conduct Cost Benefit estimation of the Aadhaar Programme. NIPFP has
submitted its findings on March 15, 2012. The Cost Benefit estimation carried out by the
NIPFP indicates that Aadhaar would have significant intangible and tangible benefits.
According to the study, the greatest intangible benefit of the programme would be that
it would make every individual identifiable biometrically and empower the beneficiaries
of Government Programmes to hold the service provider accountable for their rights and
entitlement. As regards the tangible benefits, the cost benefit analysis indicates that
even a partial application of Aadhaar to welfare programmes such as MGNREGS and PDS would
result in the Aadhaar programmes benefits outweighing its costs significantly.