Modi reviews Aadhaar benefits scheme

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a review of the Unique Identification or Aadhar and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) and called for accelerating the delivery of benefits through both schemes.

Reviewing the progress at a high-level meeting, he called for expansion of the applications of the Aadhaar platform, so that its benefits can be extended to as many public services as possible. He directed officials concerned to identify applications, where concrete results can be achieved in the next two months, according to an official statement.

Appreciating the progress made in some areas, Modi sought the strengthening of the institutional mechanism related with Aadhaar and DBT.

The prime minister was informed that a total of 14 to 15 percent saving is being achieved in cooking gas subsidy alone, as a result of elimination of leakages, and duplication.

The meeting was attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Ministers of State in the Finance and Home Ministries Jayant Sinha and Haribhai Chaudhary, NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Arvind Panagariya and other senior officials.