AADHAAR: What is & Why ?

Unique Identification Authority of India

AADHAAR: What is & Why ?

What is Aadhaar?
Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique number which will be issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to all residents of the country. It’s a step towards putting India in the club of more than 50 countries around the world that have some form of national identity cards. These include most of continental Europe (not the UK), China, Brazil, Japan, Iran, Israel and Indonesia. The number will be stored in a centralized database and linked to the basic demographics and biometric information photograph, ten fingerprints and iris of each individual. The number will be unique and would be available for online and offline verification and, hence, will rule out the possibility of duplicate and fake identities from government as well as various private databases.
What are the benefits of biometrics?
Apart from easy availability, the project will also rule out frauds by employing biometric techniques. Biometrics comprises methods for uniquely recognizing humans based upon intrinsic physiological or behavioural traits. So far, it is primarily used in computer science for access control. In some form, the method is also used for identifying individuals in groups who are under surveillance. Generally, biometric characteristics are divided into two main classes: physiological or those based on fingerprints, face, DNA, palm prints, iris recognition; and behavioural, which can include anything from gait or voice to typing rhythm. Aadhaar will use physiological traits — fingerprints and iris — to issue the unique identities. The iris recognition is included because the project is aimed at encompassing every resident, which includes children for whom fingerprints might not be a reliable identification and people working at places like fireworks factories and some plantations who have got their fingerprints rubbed off.
What will be the benefits of the unique identification number?
One of the key challenges faced by people in India is difficulty in establishing identity. People have multiple identity documents, each serving a different purpose. The most important characteristic of Aadhaar is its universality and it is assumed that the biometric card with the number will be gradually accepted across the country as the identification number by all service providers and government agencies. It is assumed by the UIDAI that the card will increase the trust between private and public agencies and reduce the denial of services to people who have no identification. The number will also hopefully reduce the hassle of repeatedly proving identity by various documents to avail services like opening a bank account and obtaining passport or driving licence and so on. For the people living below the poverty line and the ones who are entitled to various government-run welfare programmes, the number and the biometric data will help in identifying the beneficiaries.
Why is the UID criticized by some people?
The main criticism of the UID is based on privacy concerns. The project is criticized because, unlike Western countries, India is not known for stringent data protection laws and the opposing group fears data theft and selling of the vital information to a third party by corrupt officials. Apart from this, they argue, it’s an individual’s right to protect his or her privacy from any unlawful interference, even by the state. Article 21 of the Constitution, the Hindu Marriage Act, the Copyright Act, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 and the Code of Criminal Procedure all place some form of restrictions on the release of personal information.
Is it mandatory or voluntary?
Considering privacy concerns, UIDAI has kept provision of voluntary registration at enrolment camps to obtain the number. Critics, however, argue that once the programme gets linked to welfare programmes, the PDS system and availing of various services, it will lose its true voluntary nature. Hence, it’s also important to have stringent laws to prevent denial of service in such situations.