'Efficient UIDAI' set to invade NPR territory

 

Nearly two years after a turf war between the Nandan Nilekani-led Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the Union home ministry's National Population Register (NPR) over duplication of data, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is expected to discuss a proposal this week that could result in extension of UIDAI's mandate in states that were to be covered under NPR.

According to a senior government official, the decision to allow Aadhaar enrolment in non-UIDAI states like Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand was taken due to slow progress in granting NPR in these states. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), under which the Registrar General of India (RGI) functions, has been consulted on this, the official added. MHA's comfort zones and prior commitments have been kept in mind while planning the move, the official added.

Another official added a Cabinet note on the same had been moved by the Planning Commission with the idea that if Direct Benefits Transfer has to be expedited, Aadhaar enrollment needs to move quickly in populous states such as UP, Bihar and Chhattisgarh. The Aadhaar number can be granted either through UIDAI or through NPR.

According to the compromise worked out in January 2012, UIDAI was given permission - and finances to enroll 600 million people under its scheme, while NPR was to collect its own data through the Registrar-General of India for the remaining 60 million. This would have resulted in biometric data of all 1.2 billion Indian residents by June 2013.

However, so far UIDAI has given Aadhar numbers to 561 million people, while identification numbers generated through NPS is around 139.3 million.

(With inputs from Surabhi Agarwal)