Question : ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE OF UIDAI

(a) whether the Planning Commission has raised question about the administrative structure of Unique Identity Authority of India (US DAI) as reported in the media;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Ministry of Finance has rejected the funding proposal for this project;

(d) if so, the reasons therefore;

(e) whether the Government has proposed to appoint an independent financial advisor to monitor UIDAI finances and transactions and also relook at the administrative structure;

(f) if so, the details thereof;and

(g) the other steps being taken to monitor the utilization of funds by UIDAI?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR PLANNING, SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES ( DR. ASHWANI KUMAR)

(a) & (b): Yes, Sir. UIDAI is an attached office of the Planning Commission. Planning Commission had taken up the matter with Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, to streamline processes for handling files in the Planning Commission that come from UIDAI as an attached office. The Planning Commission had also pointed out that the Financial Adviser in the UIDAI had been assigned several administrative responsibilities along with her function as the Financial Adviser. It was indicated that this arrangement would take away the; benefit of an independent scrutiny of proposals involving use of public funds by an arms` length Financial Adviser. These matters have been resolved and processes have been streamlined as per the existing Government procedures.

(c): No, Sir. The funding proposals for Phase I and Phase II of 1NR 147.31 crore and INR INR 8,814.75 crore for Phase III, inclusive of Rs.3023.01 crore for Phase II. The proposal would be brought before the Cabinet Committee on UIDAI (CC, UIDAI) in due course.

(d): Does not arise.

(e) & (f): UTDAI already has an independent Financial Adviser appointed by Department of Expenditure in December 2009. However, the Financial Adviser had also been allocated many other responsibilities. After the matter was brought to the notice of Department of Expenditure, the Financial Adviser in the UIDAI has been assigned only those duties which are the core function of the office of the Financial Adviser.

(g): Utilization of funds is being monitored in UIDAI in accordance with extant Government instructions and procedures.