Question : ISSUANCE OF MNIC

(a) whether the Government has decided to prepare a National Population Register (NPR) and to issue a nationwide Multi-purpose National Indentity Card (MNIC) on the basis of the NPR;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the present status of the project along with the time by which the MNIC is likely to be issued;

(c) whether the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) had also been entrusted with this task and is already working on such kind of big projects;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) the details of the mandate of UIDAI and NPR so as to check duplication of such tasks; and

(f) the total expenditure likely to be incurred in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI R.P.N.SINGH)

(a) & (b): Yes, madam. Government has decided to prepare National Population Register (NPR) in the country. The collection of demographic data for creation of NPR for the entire country has already been completed through house-to-house enumeration. Scanning of all filled-in NPR schedule (i.e., approximately 27 crore) has been done. Data digitization of more than 117.32 crore population has been completed. Biometric enrolment of more than 16.90 crore population is over. The biometric data of 12.38 crore persons have been sent to Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and Aadhaar number for 7.26 crore persons, enrolled under NPR, has been generated.

There is no proposal to issue Multi-purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) at present. However, proposals for issuance of Resident Identity [smart] Cards (RICs) to all usual residents in the country who are of age 18 years and above, under the scheme of NPR in the country has been appraised by the Expenditure Finance Committee and recommended. The Union Cabinet has considered this proposal on 31.01.2013 and has directed that the proposal may, in the first instance, be considered by a Group of Ministers (GoM). The GoM has since been constituted and two meetings have since been held.

(c) & (d): The UIDAI issues Unique Identification Number called ‘Aadhaar Number’ based on the demographic and biometric attributes of the person residing in India through the multiple Registrar model. The RGI is one of its Registrars. The Aadhaar number is intimated through a letter and the authority is not issuing smart cards.

(e): The mandate of UIDAI is to de-duplicate and generate a unique identity number called ‘Aadhaar’. The enrolment for Aadhaar is voluntary. The de-duplication and generation of Aadhaar number by UIDAI is a part of NPR process. To minimize the duplication of efforts between NPR and UIDAI, the Government has decided that NPR enrolments will continue as envisaged [since enrolement under NPR is mandatory] but during the course of NPR biometric enrolment, a person indicates she/he is already enrolled for Aadhaar, the biometric data will not be captured for NPR. Instead the Aadhaar number will be recorded in NPR and the biometric data will be sourced from the UIDAI.

(f): The Government has approved ` 6,649.05 crore for creation of NPR in the entire country. The total estimated outlay approved by the Cabinet Committee on UIDAI for the UID Project is ` 12,398.22 crore.