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Central Government, Local Government

Identity card piloted in southern India

By Alice Kok | 26 May 2009

The southern Indian state Karnataka has been chosen as the pilot location to implement the central government’s National Unique Identity (UID) project.

The aim of the UID programme is to provide an identity card for every citizen to establish citizenship and address security concerns. The programme in Karnataka is being carried out by the Department of e-governance, which is in the process of identifying two districts — one urban, one rural — to gather databases and check their compatibility.

The UID programme is part of the ongoing Multi-Purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) scheme—aimed at issuing identification cards to citizens living in India’s coastal villages by 2010.

The government wants to distinguish between citizens and non-citizens living in coastal areas. The National Authority for Unique Identity (NAUI), set up under the Planning Commission, will work in coordination with the office of the Registrar General of India (RGI), which has been working on the National Population Register.

The identity cards issued will be smart cards containing information on each individual along with finger biometrics as well as a photograph. A unique National Identity Number will be assigned to each individual including those below 18 years of age.

Karnataka was chosen as a pilot state because the state has a relatively good user database. The exercise pull in information from the Department of Food and Civil Supplies, Women and Child Welfare Department and the electoral roll.

The pilot programme will be completed in three months.

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