Panel to decide on biometrics for UIDs: Nilekani

A committee will decide on the set of biometrics in issuing the Unique Identification (UID) numbers, head of the ambitious project Nandan Nilekani today said.

The numbers would be unique and accorded to an individual based on a set or combination of his unique biometrics and would carry minimalistic demographic information relating to his name and address, the Unique Identification Authority of India chairman said.

Addressing the platinum jubilee meeting of the Indian Academy of Sciences here, he said a biometric committee would decide on the combination of biometrics that would be used to decide the number. It could be a combination of fingerprints of all 10 fingers, an iris scan and a facial photo.

The system would contain one large database, comprising the unique identification number of 1 billion plus population. "It would not entitle the holder to any rights of entitlements nor be a proof of his citizenship or nationality," he clarified, adding it would provide no additional information on his income, caste or religion.

UIDAI will authenticate IDs online. A bank and a service provider could check an individual's by asking him to log his fingerprint and other biometrics and connecting it to the master database that would verify whether the person is who he claims to be.

The first rollout is expected to take place next year and 600 million would be covered in five-and-a-half years, he said.