Unique ID Program Introduces Instant Verification Services

Amit Dave/Reuters A woman undergoing an eye scan as part of the Unique Identification Database enrollment process in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on Feb. 13.

NEW DELHI - The central government on Friday introduced three authentication services as part of India's ambitious identification program that will make it easier for users to instantly provide proof of their identity.

Through the program, called Aadhaar (foundation), the government aims to provide each of the country's 1.2 billion citizens a 12-digit unique number that people can use as identification to open a bank account or receive government welfare benefits directly, thereby bypassing the usual bureaucratic paperwork. Proponents of the program say that it will help circumvent corrupt government officials who steal aid that is meant for the poor.

Montek Singh Ahluwalia, deputy chairman of the planning commission of India, said 20 to 40 percent of government aid ends up wasted or stolen under the current system. “Aadhaar will improve it massively,” he said in New Delhi on Friday as he announced the three new services for Aadhaar users.

Those in the Aadhaar system will now be able to identify themselves by using an eye scanner, which checks the unique patterns in their irises, and providing their ID number. Those with mobile phones can also request a one-time numerical password to be sent by text message, which would be used in conjunction with the user's ID number. The third service, dubbed e-KYC (“know your customer”), allows users to authorize businesses like banks to receive electronic proof of the users' identify and home address.

“This is a major step in the direction of enabling Aadhaar holders to avail various services by using the Aadhaar identity platform,” Nandan Nilekeni, chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, which oversees Aadhaar, said in a statement.

“It also makes sense for various user agencies - public or private - as they can identify a beneficiary or customer using a secure, economical and paperless format,” he said. “The direct benefit transfer is the biggest benefit, but we will find so many applications in future in banking, telecommunication, insurance, health sectors, including carrying an individual's health data.”

In the future, Mr. Ahluwalia said, Aadhaar will be used in distributing scholarships to students, pension, wages to those hired under government welfare programs and different types of subsidies.

Residents can update their details at permanent Aadhaar centers set up around the country. At present 500 centers are operational, and another 500 will be opened in the next three months.

Since the program began in 2010, Aadhaar has provided 350 million people with ID numbers, and an additional 50 million are in the process of being registered. The government is aiming to generate ID numbers for 600 million residents by March 2014.

The government agency in charge of the project has 25,000 teams throughout the country that are generating about one million unique numbers every day.

In 121 districts in India, Aadhaar is being used to provide government aid directly to recipients. India's 1.21 billion people are spread over 640,930 villages in 640 districts.