-The Times of India   Unique identification authority said the Aadhaar cards issued by it are a valid residence proof for opening a bank account. "Aadhaar is a valid 'Know Your Customer' (KYC) document for opening a bank account," Unique Identification Development Authority of India (uidAI) chairman Nandan Nilekani said. "Aadhaar letter has two parts - identity and address. If the address which a person shows to the bank, is the same address...

-The Economic Times   The Planning Commission has raised questions about the administrative structure of the Nandan Nilekani-led Unique Identity Authority of India (uidAI) and called for the appointment of an independent financial advisor to monitor its finances and transactions, days after the finance ministry rejected the authority's Rs 15,000 crore funding proposal. "The uidAI's present system represents a major departure from government procedures and removes all inbuilt checks and balances. We...

Media Reports The uid Aadhaar project planning and system design shortcomings and security risks at the national (or macro) level have been discussed elsewhere.1 The present article views the Aadhaar project at the system operational level, with practical considerations based on observed and probable functioning at the service delivery end. Consider the following report in a local daily, The Mysore Bugle: Food riots: PDS outlet vandalised Mysore: August 2, 2015—The PDS outlet in Ashokpuram...

-The Business Standard   Several Indian states have deployed information technology (IT) to improve the operations of their public distribution system (PDS). Madhya Pradesh has gone the farthest in this regard by issuing ration cards to only those with unique identification (uid) numbers. The state is also using the services of an IT firm. Since an IT system takes some time to be put in place and then some more to get...

The Planning Commission has proposed the introduction of a state-funded health insurance programme by 2017 to cover every citizen of the country. The panel has suggested that the government formulate financial incentives for beneficiaries of the insurance programme as well as their employers to encourage them to participate in the plan. “The 12th Plan (2012-17) will explore the possibilities of introducing a government-funded health insurance plan for every citizen along the lines...