Aadhar number increases convenience dramatically: Nilekani

Remarks come a day after the SC refused to make having Aadhar number compulsory to avail of the welfare benefits

Unique Identification Authority of India chairman Nandan Nilekani today said the Aadhar number "dramatically improves the convenience" and makes the life "simpler".

"People often think that why do they need the Aadhar number. Fundamentally, our view is that the possession of an Aadhar number dramatically improves convenience in your life," Nilekani said at the launch of an Aadhar-linked banking facility here.

"You can use it for a variety of things, make your life simpler, get access to public services, transfer money," he said.

His remarks come a day after the Supreme Court refused to make having Aadhar number compulsory to avail of the welfare benefits, on a plea by the Ministry of Petroleum to make Aadhar enrolment necessary for cooking gas subsidy.

Nilekani declined to comment on the Supreme Court's stand, saying the matter is subjudice.

The Union Cabinet yesterday cleared the National Identification Authority of India Bill, which will provide statutory status to the Aadhar authority.

Reacting to this, Nilekani said, "It is one more step of putting the organisation on an institutional footing and we are very happy that the bill has been passed by the cabinet."

It will be easier to regulate the activities of the UIDAI once the law is in place, he said.

Nilekani said that 44 crore Aadhar cards have been issued in the last four years, and the target of enlisting 60 crore people by 2014 could be achieved.

The authority is upgrading its systems to issue numbers faster, and currently it can issue 1 million numbers a day, he said, adding that 25 million cards were issued in September.