NEW DELHI: The National Authority for Unique Identity, headed by Nandan Nilekani, will aim at providing a unique number to all Indians, but not smart cards.
It's another matter that various ministries may, for their various purposes, choose to issue biometric cards using this unique number. But the Nilekani team itself will focus simply on ways to give all citizens a unique number, and let others issue cards for purposes they think fit.
The unique ID number will not substitute other existing numbers a person may have (PAN, passport number, ration card number). Rather, it will be an additional, unique number to be cited along with existing numbers for different purposes. This will help weed out duplicate and ghost cards that are widespread today (notably in BPL ration cards), and, may be, benami bank accounts and property deeds.
Instead of issuing cards, the Nilekani team will make available a unique ID database to all ministries and other partners, who can then integrate their databases (covering passports, ration cards, job cards, PAN cards) with the unique ID database. Some may issue biometric cards integrating the unique number with other existing numbers. The home ministry may issue a biometric card for weeding out illegal immigrants, and the rural development ministry may want a biometric card for transferring cash to the poor.
A card issuer can be a facilitator and not a direct participant in transactions. For instance, a Visa credit card links consumers, retailers and banks, but Visa itself is just a card issuer collecting a percentage on sales, not a seller of goods or a banker. The Visa card simply facilitates retail and banking transactions.
Participation in credit cards is entirely voluntary. This will also be the case with the unique ID scheme. Citizens will not be obliged to get a number. But those that don't will find it very inconvenient: they will not have access to facilities that require you to cite your ID number.
