Govt kicks off ID project for all Indians

With an aim to assign a unique identification number to each of the over one-billion citizens in the country, the government has formally begun the process by notifying setting up of a national authority for the purpose.The project will ensure a permanent ID card, which would have a unique number, photograph and biometric data, for every Indian, from birth till death, and would also cover children and is targetted at cutting down identity-related frauds and addressing security issues, among others, sources said.The identification number will be provided by the National Authority for Unique Identify (UID), an entity being set up under the Planning Commission.It will work in close coordination with Home Ministry's National Population Register through the Registrar General of the Census, in accordance with the Indian Citizenship Act.The authority will work in cooperation with the similar bodies being set up at the state level, authoritative sources told PTI.In the beginning, the UID number will be assigned to all voters by building on current electoral roll data. Progressively, other persons, including those below 18 years of age, will be added to the list.Photographs and biometric data would be added to make the identification fool-proof, sources said, adding easy registration and information change procedures are also being envisaged for the benefit of the people.Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar, according to sources, had asked the Planning Commission officials to expedite setting-up of the authority.