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Context of Aadhaar

At present, the central and state governments in India issue different identity for specific purposes. These documents may be issued to individuals (passport, Election Card, PAN card, driving license), or to households (ration card, Rastriya Swasthya Bima Yojna card).

In April 2000, a Group of Ministers was set to review the national security system and to consider recommendations of Kargil Review Committee. The report on "Reforming the National Security System", submitted in 2001, recommended that a multi-purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) should be issued, starting from the border districts. The purpose was to prepare a National Register of Indian Citizens. 

In 2003, the Citizenship Act, 1955 was amended to allow the central government to compulsorily register every citizen and issue them with identity cards. 
In March 2006, another project called "Unique ID for Below Poverty Line families" was approved by the Department of Information Technology. 

It was decided to merge the two schemes for which an Empowered Group of Ministers (chaired by Mr. Pranab Mukherjee) was set up in December 2006. In November 2008, the EGoM approved certain decisions:

  • initially the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) would be notified as an executive authority (statutory authority to be constituted later);
  • an initial database would be created from electoral rolls;
  • UIDAI would take its own decision on how to build the database; and
  • it wouldbe anchored in the Planning Commission for five years. The UIDAI was notified by the Planning Commission on January 28, 2009 and Mr. Nandan Nilekani was appointed as the Chairman.
The Bill seeks to establish the National Identification Authority (earlier UIDAI) as statutory authority and to specify its functions. It also entitles every resident of India to obtain a unique identification number.

Courtesy: PRS India
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