Lecturrete Topic 2 - Aadhaar

1. The Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Bill, 2016, better known as Aadhaar Bill, was introduced in Lok Sabha on March 3.

2. Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Indian government to every individual resident of India that collects biometric data of the residents. It’s helmed by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a central agency of Indian Government. Aadhaar Card is considered as the largest nation based identification number project in the world.

3. The Aadhar card is the only government-issued document that is available anywhere, everywhere. An Aadhaar card can be applied for online.

4. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UDAI), which functions under the Planning Commission of India, is responsible for managing Aadhaar numbers and Aadhaar identification cards.

5. The Aadhaar card captures all the details, including demographic and biometric information, of every resident Indian individual.

6. Aadhaar is widely in use in Acquisition of Passport, Opening bank accounts, digital life certificate, receipt of monthly pension, jan dhan yojana, disbursing provident fund, LPG subsidy.

7. Aadhaar made mandatory for women to avail vocational training, loans and other schemes. People wishing to avail benefits of welfare schemes under Integrated Department of Horticulture, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme and Janani Suraksha Yojana need mandatory Aadhaar.

8. Several aadhar card holders feel that the mandatory policy launched by the government last month, that demanded Indian users to link their aadhar card number with their bank accounts and PAN Card was an direct invasion of their Legislative Right to Privacy.

Advantages/Benefits of Aadhaar Card

1. Various documentary proof are required to identify a person, aadhaar will reduce the burden of various identity proofs. Various type of duplication of data can be stopped. Fake identities can be weeded out. Government of India has launched DigiLocker (digital locker) system for everyone for  storing all personal document securely (This is enabled by aadhaar).

2. Public distribution system is more efficient now as aadhaar is mandatory to take your monthly ration.

3. Aadhaar based Direct Benefit Transfer (LPG Subsidy)– Aadhar Card linked vbank account will get their set of LPG Subsidy directly accredited in the bank account. All you need is to link Aadhaar Number to the 17-digit LPG  consumer identification under the PAHAL Scheme.

4. Monthly Pension and Provident Fund – As per the new changes in rule, a  person needs to link their Aadhaar Card to their respective pension account and provident fund. A person who has registered their Aadhaar Card as per the rule will have the amount credited to their bank account.

5. Avail New Bank account – Away from the old rule that requires  submission of multiple documents for the opening of bank account, Aadhaar Card has been a timely intervention. Aadhaar Card is now accepted by the  banks as part of the valid id proof for opening a bank account. It also  acts as the address proof of the applicant and validates their credentials. No more requirements for the baggage of documents when opening a bank  account now, Aadhaar Card is used as the major document of proof when opening a bank account under the Pradhan Mantri Jhan Dhan Yojana in the  nation. The bank account comes with great set of benefits like free zero  balance saving account, RuPay Card, accident insurance and more.

6. Passport and Voter ID – Aadhaar Card will relieve you of the lengthy procedure while obtaining Passport. An applicant who uses Aadhaar Card as  part of the procedure can get the Passport in just 10 days. Furthermore, a  change in rules and laws have regarded Aadhaar Card as a compulsory  document for obtaining Passport.

Disadvantages/Demerits of Aadhaar Card

1. People are in fear that govt can track all their transactions.

2. Personal information privacy issues. Aadhaar information is stored at CIDR( Central Identities Data Repository)  considered to be a secure place but we don’t know what happens if security  compromises!

3. Problems Arising due to Centralization – As the Unique Identification  Scheme is governed by the supreme authority of the nation, there might  arise problems pertaining to the centralization of it. The centralization  of power will create different unorthodox issues for government and people  as a whole. As such a mighty disadvantage lurking in for the Aadhaar based  identification is the centralization of power attached to Individual Information may be Compromised – Aadhaar based identification  record the biometrics of a person with uniquely associated 12-digit  numerical. It is also linked with the bank accounts and the voter ID  credentials as we discussed up above in the advantages. This bit  of private individual information may be compromised if handled otherwise.  This stands as a big risk going forward with the Aadhaar card.

4. Misuse in Banking Transactions – Aadhaar based identification will give way  to a new banking transaction where Aadhaar Identification will be used in  lieu of ATM, Debit or Credit Cards. This bit will help out to reach the  financial transaction to a mass of people but cites in a few disadvantages  too. Such identification can be used to forge the transaction to many. 

5. Uneasy nature of Usage – Although Aadhaar based identification will prove  to be a hit, in the long run, the current trend says otherwise. In a mass  of population where illiteracy and rural lifestyle are still around, using Aadhaar card can be a tricky thing to be negotiated. Many  still find using Aadhaar Card and its mirage of offerings as one of the  bane rather than as a boon for the nation. Only when the population is able  to cope with the usage of Aadhaar Card can that be named as successful  enough. Until then, we could cite this as a disadvantage.