Scribd
Upload
53 views

SCR Summary UID Bill, 2010

The Standing Committee on Finance submitted a report on the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010. The report recommended that the government reconsider the UID scheme and introduce a new bill due to several concerns. The committee noted that the bill may allow illegal immigrants to obtain ID numbers. It also stated that collecting biometric information without amendments to citizenship laws may exceed legal authority. Additionally, the report identified issues regarding coverage of marginalized groups, duplication of data collection efforts, involvement of private agencies, and uncertainties around the revenue model and data storage.

Uploaded by

RAGHUBALAN DURAIRAJU
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
53 views

SCR Summary UID Bill, 2010

The Standing Committee on Finance submitted a report on the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010. The report recommended that the government reconsider the UID scheme and introduce a new bill due to several concerns. The committee noted that the bill may allow illegal immigrants to obtain ID numbers. It also stated that collecting biometric information without amendments to citizenship laws may exceed legal authority. Additionally, the report identified issues regarding coverage of marginalized groups, duplication of data collection efforts, involvement of private agencies, and uncertainties around the revenue model and data storage.

Uploaded by

RAGHUBALAN DURAIRAJU
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Standing Committee Report Summary

The National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2010

The Standing Committee on Finance submitted its 42nd


Report on The National Identification Authority of India
Bill, 2010 on December 13, 2011. The Chairperson was
Yashwant Sinha.
The Bill seeks to: (a) establish the National Identification
Authority of India (NIAI) to issue unique identification
numbers (called Aadhaar) to residents of India; (b) entitle
all residents of India to an Aadhaar number after furnishing
relevant demographic and biometric information; and (c)
provide for storage of data in the Central Identities Data
Repository.
The Committee recommended that the government
reconsider the UID scheme and introduce a new Bill. Three
members of the Committee dissented.
The Committee noted that all residents are entitled to an
Aadhar number under the Bill. This may allow illegal
immigrants to obtain an Aadhar number as well.
The Bill provides for the collection of personal and
biometric information. The Committee stated that linking
biometric information with personal information, without
amendment to the Citizenship Act, 1955 or Citizenship
(Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity
Cards) Rules, 2003, may be beyond the scope of
subordinate legislation and requires detailed examination
by Parliament.
The Committee further identified the following as lacunae
in the UID scheme: (a) continuance of other forms of
identification for proof of address; (b) potential for
identification fraud due information being stored in smart
cards issued by registrars; (c) likelihood of incomplete
coverage of marginalized sections due to lack of existing
data and estimated failure rate of up to 15 percent in
capturing biometric information from manual labourers.
The Committee listed concerns about the scheme raised by
other government bodies, including: (a) duplication of

efforts by agencies for collecting personal information such


as NPR, MGNREGS, BPL census, UIDAI, RSBY and
Bank Smart Cards ; (b) efficacy of the introducer system;
(c) involvement of private agencies collecting information
as a threat to national security; (d) uncertainties in the
UIDAI revenue model; (e) merits of functioning of UIDAI;
(f) necessity of collection of iris image for enrolment; (g)
involvement of several nodal appraising agencies; and (h)
method used for storing of data and its implications on
privacy and security.
The Committee stated that a lack of clarity remains on
several key issues, including: (a) purpose of issuing an
Aadhar number; (b) whether having an Aadhar number may
become mandatory in the future for availing benefits and
services; (c) whether coverage will eventually exceed the
current mandate of 20 crore persons.
The Committee felt that the passage of a national data
protection law is pre-requisite before any law dealing with
large scale collection of information from individuals and
linkages across databases. The Committee noted that one
such bill is being drafted by the Ministry of Personnel,
Public Grievances and Pensions.
The Committee expressed strong disapproval that no
comprehensive feasibility study evaluating financial
implications and prevention of identity theft was
undertaken prior to approval of the UID scheme.
The Committee stated that the objectives of the UID
scheme are unlikely to be accomplished due to limitations
and uncertainty in technology. In particular, it cited
observations by the UIDAI Biometrics Standards
Committee on error rates of biometric technology.
The Committee stated its concern that entrusting the
responsibility of verification of individual information to
registrars may have consequences for national security.

DISCLAIMER: This document is being furnished to you for your information. You may choose to reproduce or redistribute this report for non-commercial
purposes in part or in full to any other person with due acknowledgement of PRS Legislative Research (PRS). The opinions expressed herein are entirely those
of the author(s). PRS makes every effort to use reliable and comprehensive information, but PRS does not represent that the contents of the report are accurate or
complete. PRS is an independent, not-for-profit group. This document has been prepared without regard to the objectives or opinions of those who may receive it.

Vivake Prasad

December 14, 2011

[email protected]
PRS Legislative Research

Centre for Policy Research Dharma Marg Chanakyapuri


Tel: (011) 2611 5273-76, Fax: 2687 2746
www.prsindia.org

New Delhi 110021

You might also like