<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/aadhaar-data-breach-after-police-complaint-against-journalist-government-says-committed-to-freedom-of-the-press-28889" target="_blank">After FIR against journalist, government says committed to freedom of press</a></p>

<p>After a police complaint against a journalist of the Tribune for an expose on the breach of privacy of Aadhaar details, the government today clarified that it is committed to the freedom of the press.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/confirmed-padmavat-to-release-on-january-25th-28879" target="_blank">Confirmed: Padmavat to release on January 25</a></p>

<p>The date is finally confirmed. Sanjay Leela Bhansali&#39;s film&nbsp;<em>Padmavat</em><em>&nbsp;</em>is all set to release in the theatre on January 25th, 2018. The controversial film got its censor certificate earlier last week and now the makers have planned to release the film in January and cash in on the extended weekend.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/rajasthan-government-says-padmavat-will-not-be-released-in-state-28900" target="_blank">Rajasthan government says &#39;Padmavat&#39; will not be released in state</a></p>

<p>Sanjay Leela Bhansali&#39;s much-awaited epic period drama Padmavat has been banned from release in Rajasthan. The state Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria confirmed the news.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-to-review-its-2013-verdict-on-criminalising-gay-sex-28864" target="_blank">Supreme Court to review 2013 verdict on </a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-to-review-its-2013-verdict-on-criminalising-gay-sex-28864" target="_blank">criminalising</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-to-review-its-2013-verdict-on-criminalising-gay-sex-28864" target="_blank"> gay sex</a></p>

<p>The Supreme Court has decided to &quot;refer&nbsp;to a larger bench&quot; a plea that seeks to decriminalise gay sex.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/opposed-to-us-finger-pointing-at-pak-on-terror-related-issues-china-28887" target="_blank">Opposed to US &#39;finger pointing&#39; at Pakistan on terror-related issues: China</a></p>

<p>China today said it is opposed to the US &quot;finger pointing&quot; at Pakistan and linking it with terrorism, insisting that the responsibility of cracking down on terror outfits cannot be placed on a particular country.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


After FIR against journalist, government says committed to freedom of press After a police complaint against a journalist of the Tribune for an expose on the breach of privacy of Aadhaar details, the government today clarified that it is committed to the freedom of the press. Confirmed: Padmavat to release on January 25 The date is finally confirmed. Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film Padmavat is all set to release in the theatre on January 25th, 2018. The controversial film got its censor certificate earlier last week and now the makers have planned to release the film in January and cash in on the extended weekend. Rajasthan government says 'Padmavat' will not be released in state Sanjay Leela Bhansali's much-awaited epic period drama Padmavat has been banned from release in Rajasthan. The state Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria confirmed the news. Supreme Court to review 2013 verdict on criminalising gay sex The Supreme Court has decided to "refer to a larger bench" a plea that seeks to decriminalise gay sex. Opposed to US 'finger pointing' at Pakistan on terror-related issues: China China today said it is opposed to the US "finger pointing" at Pakistan and linking it with terrorism, insisting that the responsibility of cracking down on terror outfits cannot be placed on a particular country.

WION evening news brief, January 8, 2018

<p>A day after a media&nbsp;report revealed a case of a <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/whatsapp-group-sold-aadhaar-details-for-rs-500-uidai-denies-report-28548" target="_blank">major data breach of Aadhaar details</a>, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has filed an FIR for unauthorised access to Aadhaar data due to the misuse of the grievance redressal facility.</p>

<p>The FIR is filed in Mohali at the Surat district administration in Gujarat as the &quot;purchase&quot; of the access to <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/edward-snowden-on-aadhaar-no-matter-the-laws-the-result-is-abuse-28613" target="_blank">Aadhaar data</a> was reported from Mohali.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The UIDAI said that the Demographic information cannot be misused without biometrics.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The officials also said that they will investigate and trace the people involved in making the login ID and password available to a private entity.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A media report had earlier revealed that an anonymous Whatsapp group was selling details of Aadhaar data available with UIDAI.</p>

<p>The WhatsApp group was accessed by the reporter of the media.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reporter said that after he joined the WhatsApp group and paid Rs 500 via Paytm, the WhatsApp group provided him with an ID, password as an access to details of any Aadhaar number. The reporter said he could enter any Aadhaar number and get access to details relating to name, address, phone number, photo, email.</p>

<p>He also said that with an additional amount of Rs 300, the WhatsApp group offered to give them a software for printing Aadhaar details.</p>

<p>UIDAI had then denied the claims calling it &quot;misreporting&quot;.</p>


The FIR is filed in Mohali at the Surat district administration in Gujarat as the "purchase" of the access to Aadhaar data was reported from Mohali.?

A day after a media report revealed a case of a major data breach of Aadhaar details, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has filed an FIR for unauthorised access to Aadhaar data due to the misuse of the grievance redressal facility. The FIR is filed in Mohali at the Surat district administration in Gujarat as the "purchase" of the access to Aadhaar data was reported from Mohali. The UIDAI said that the Demographic information cannot be misused without biometrics. The officials also said that they will investigate and trace the people involved in making the login ID and password available to a private entity. A media report had earlier revealed that an anonymous Whatsapp group was selling details of Aadhaar data available with UIDAI. The WhatsApp group was accessed by the reporter of the media. The reporter said that after he joined the WhatsApp group and paid Rs 500 via Paytm, the WhatsApp group provided him with an ID, password as an access to details of any Aadhaar number. The reporter said he could enter any Aadhaar number and get access to details relating to name, address, phone number, photo, email. He also said that with an additional amount of Rs 300, the WhatsApp group offered to give them a software for printing Aadhaar details. UIDAI had then denied the claims calling it "misreporting".

UIDAI files FIR for unauthorised access to Aadhaar data

<p>A day after the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/whatsapp-group-sold-aadhaar-details-for-rs-500-uidai-denies-report-28548">Unique Identification Authority of India</a> (UIDAI) denied that there was any breach of the Aadhaar database, American whistleblower Edward Snowden said on Friday that the Aadhaar database conceived and introduced by the Indian government can also be misused and abused.</p>

<p>Retweeting CBS journalist Zack Whittaker&#39;s response on a BuzzFeed report on the breach of Aadhaar database in India, Snowden said, &quot;It is the natural tendency of government to desire perfect records of private lives. History shows that no matter the laws, the result is abuse.&quot;</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">It is the natural tendency of government to desire perfect records of private lives. History shows that no matter the laws, the result is abuse. <a href="https://t.co/7HSQSZ4T3f">https://t.co/7HSQSZ4T3f</a></p>
&mdash; Edward Snowden (@Snowden) <a href="https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/949057892069523459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Whittaker had earlier said, &quot;ICYMI. India has a national ID database with the private information of nearly 1.2 billion nationals. It&#39;s reportedly been breached. Admin accounts can be made and access can be sold to the database, reports BuzzFeed.&quot;</p>

<p>The UIDAI on Thursday said the Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure.</p>

<p>It termed The Tribune report titled Rs 500, 10 minutes, and you have access to billion Aadhaar details a case of misreporting.</p>

<p>&quot;There has not been any Aadhaar data breach. The Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure,&quot; the UIDAI said in a statement.</p>

<p>This development has come at a time when the Supreme Court is set to begin the final hearing of petitions challenging the legality of Aadhaar programme based on privacy concerns on January 17.</p>

<p>In August 2017, the Supreme Court held that privacy is a fundamental right under the Constitution of India.</p>


The UIDAI on Thursday said the Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure.

A day after the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) denied that there was any breach of the Aadhaar database, American whistleblower Edward Snowden said on Friday that the Aadhaar database conceived and introduced by the Indian government can also be misused and abused. Retweeting CBS journalist Zack Whittaker's response on a BuzzFeed report on the breach of Aadhaar database in India, Snowden said, "It is the natural tendency of government to desire perfect records of private lives. History shows that no matter the laws, the result is abuse." It is the natural tendency of government to desire perfect records of private lives. History shows that no matter the laws, the result is abuse. https://t.co/7HSQSZ4T3f — Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 4, 2018 × Whittaker had earlier said, "ICYMI. India has a national ID database with the private information of nearly 1.2 billion nationals. It's reportedly been breached. Admin accounts can be made and access can be sold to the database, reports BuzzFeed." The UIDAI on Thursday said the Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure. It termed The Tribune report titled Rs 500, 10 minutes, and you have access to billion Aadhaar details a case of misreporting. "There has not been any Aadhaar data breach. The Aadhaar data including biometric information is fully safe and secure," the UIDAI said in a statement. This development has come at a time when the Supreme Court is set to begin the final hearing of petitions challenging the legality of Aadhaar programme based on privacy concerns on January 17. In August 2017, the Supreme Court held that privacy is a fundamental right under the Constitution of India.

Edward Snowden on Aadhaar: 'No matter the laws, the result is abuse'

<p>An investigative media report has revealed that an anonymous Whatsapp group was selling details of<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/pakistan-national-caught-with-indian-aadhaar-card-in-rajasthan-28473" target="_blank"> Aadhaar data </a>available with UIDAI.</p>

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<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">&times;</a></div>

<p>The WhatsApp group was accessed by the reporter of the media.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reporter joined the WhatsApp group and paid Rs 500 via Paytm. In return for the meager sum, the WhatsApp group provided him with an ID, Password as an access to details of any Aadhaar number.&nbsp;The reporter could enter any Aadhaar number and get access to details relating to name, address, phone number, photo, email.</p>

<p>Also with an additional amount of Rs 300, the WhatsApp group offered to give them a software for printing Aadhaar details.</p>

<p>Sanjay Jindal, The Additional Director- General, UIDAI regional center, Chandigarh has termed the incident as a &quot;major national security breach&quot;.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He also said later that this report can only be confirmed by technical investigation.</p>

<p>The major data breach was continuing for the past six months, the media reported. It also said that there may be One lakh illegal users of Aadhaar Card.</p>

<p>A report also said that the UIDAI on its website recently introduced an option for Aadhaar users to find if there was any misuse of their details.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The &quot;major national security breach&quot; has come two months after Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) assured in November that details of Aadhaar were safe from breaches.&nbsp;</p>

<p>UIDAI has reportedly denied the claims calling it &quot;misreporting&quot;. It once again assured that there was no Aadhaar data breach and the data is completely safe and secure.&nbsp;</p>


The major data breach was continuing for the past six months, the media reported. It also said that there may be One lakh, illegal users of Aadhaar Card

An investigative media report has revealed that an anonymous Whatsapp group was selling details of Aadhaar data available with UIDAI. × The WhatsApp group was accessed by the reporter of the media. The reporter joined the WhatsApp group and paid Rs 500 via Paytm. In return for the meager sum, the WhatsApp group provided him with an ID, Password as an access to details of any Aadhaar number. The reporter could enter any Aadhaar number and get access to details relating to name, address, phone number, photo, email. Also with an additional amount of Rs 300, the WhatsApp group offered to give them a software for printing Aadhaar details. Sanjay Jindal, The Additional Director- General, UIDAI regional center, Chandigarh has termed the incident as a "major national security breach". He also said later that this report can only be confirmed by technical investigation. The major data breach was continuing for the past six months, the media reported. It also said that there may be One lakh illegal users of Aadhaar Card. A report also said that the UIDAI on its website recently introduced an option for Aadhaar users to find if there was any misuse of their details. The "major national security breach" has come two months after Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) assured in November that details of Aadhaar were safe from breaches. UIDAI has reportedly denied the claims calling it "misreporting". It once again assured that there was no Aadhaar data breach and the data is completely safe and secure.

WhatsApp group sold Aadhaar details for Rs 500, UIDAI denies report

<p>Airtel Payments Bank chief executive Shashi Arora has resigned from the company amid controversy over alleged violations of rules on using Aadhaar for its electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) verification process.</p>

<p>&quot;Shashi has decided to move on to pursue opportunities outside of Airtel. We wish Shashi the very best for his future endeavours,&quot; the company said in a statement.</p>

<p>Arora joined the telecom operator in 2006 and was appointed MD and CEO of Airtel Payments Bank on June 1, 2016.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;He has been an asset for Airtel and over the years has contributed to the company&#39;s growth story. Having led the operations in key telecom circles followed by building a strong DTH business, he has laid the foundation for Airtel&#39;s payments bank operations,&quot; the statement said.</p>

<p>The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Thursday decided to allow Bharti Airtel Ltd to resume Aadhaar-based e-KYC verification of telecom subscribers until&nbsp;January 10, 2018.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This announcement was made after &nbsp;Rs 138 crore of funds under the direct benefit transfer scheme were credited back to the original accounts of 55.63 lakh beneficiaries.</p>

<p>It, however, maintained that Airtel Payments Bank eKYC licence will remain suspended till final enquiry and audit report.</p>

<p>The Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) had earlier barred Bharti Airtel and Airtel Payments Bank from conducting Aadhaar-based verification of customers using the eKYC process. The company deposited Rs2.5 crore as a penalty with UIDAI.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The UIDAI had earlier barred Bharti Airtel and Airtel Payments Bank from conducting Aadhaar-based verification of customers using the e-KYC process.

Airtel Payments Bank chief executive Shashi Arora has resigned from the company amid controversy over alleged violations of rules on using Aadhaar for its electronic know-your-customer (e-KYC) verification process. "Shashi has decided to move on to pursue opportunities outside of Airtel. We wish Shashi the very best for his future endeavours," the company said in a statement. Arora joined the telecom operator in 2006 and was appointed MD and CEO of Airtel Payments Bank on June 1, 2016. "He has been an asset for Airtel and over the years has contributed to the company's growth story. Having led the operations in key telecom circles followed by building a strong DTH business, he has laid the foundation for Airtel's payments bank operations," the statement said. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Thursday decided to allow Bharti Airtel Ltd to resume Aadhaar-based e-KYC verification of telecom subscribers until January 10, 2018. This announcement was made after Rs 138 crore of funds under the direct benefit transfer scheme were credited back to the original accounts of 55.63 lakh beneficiaries. It, however, maintained that Airtel Payments Bank eKYC licence will remain suspended till final enquiry and audit report. The Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) had earlier barred Bharti Airtel and Airtel Payments Bank from conducting Aadhaar-based verification of customers using the eKYC process. The company deposited Rs2.5 crore as a penalty with UIDAI.

Airtel Payments Bank head Shashi Arora quits amid eKYC controversy

<p>Bharti Airtel and Airtel Payments Banks have been temporarily banned from conducting Aadhaar-based SIM verification of Mobile customers using eKYC (ELectronic Know Your Customer) process and e-KYC of payments bank clients by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).</p>

<p>The action was taken after the allegations that Bharti Airtel is using the Aadhaar-eKYC based SIM verification process to open payments bank accounts of its subscribers without their &quot;informed consent.&quot;</p>

<p>As&nbsp;Airtel is on the interim ban, it won&#39;t be able to e-verify or link mobile SIMs with the Aadhaar ID through the eKYC process of UIDAI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Customers also won&#39;t be able open their new account in Airtel Payment Bank.</p>

<p>A spokesperson for Airtel said, &quot;We can confirm that we have received an interim order from the UIDAI regarding temporary suspension of Aadhaar linked e-KYC services till their satisfaction on certain processes relating to Airtel payment banks onboarding of customers.&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;We are engaging with the authority and are hopeful of an early resolution. We are also undertaking to complete the said actions on priority and have commenced thorough checks of our process flows.</p>

<p>&nbsp;&quot;Being compliant to all guidelines is paramount to us. In the interim, any inconvenience to our customers is regretted.&quot;</p>

<p>The UIDAI also took strong&nbsp;objection to the allegations that such payment bank accounts are being linked to receive LPG subsidy.</p>

<p>The Airtel and Airtel Banks are found be violating a different section of the Aadhaar Act 2016, which mandates explicit consent of the individuals.</p>

<p>According to the law, the violations could lead to a fine of one lakh per day and termination of authentication user agreements.</p>

<p>Airtel has been opening Airtel Payments Bank Account, without the consent of the user, as they link the SIMs to the Aadhaar card.</p>

<p>According to reports, more than 23 Lakh customers have their Airtel Payments Bank Account without any prior awareness.</p>

<p>UIDAI observed that as per agreement with the authority, Airtel and Airtel bank are under obligation to ensure security and privacy of a resident&#39;s identity information.</p>

<p>An audit has also been ordered to examine if the Airtel&nbsp;and Airtel Payments Bank are in compliance with the Aadhaar Act. It will be conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>According to the sources, when Airtel received the first notice it stated that they have amended the process and the opening of a bank account is delinked from the verification process.</p>

<p>Airtel also received a notice after the previous but even then the authority was receiving complaints about the unauthorised opening of Airtel Payments Bank accounts.</p>

<p>UIDAI also reviewed the Airtel Mobile app in which they saw that along with the welcome message, a pre-ticked consent box appears for a moment which states, &quot;Upgrade or create&nbsp;my Airtel Payment Bank wallet using existing Airtel mobile KYC&quot; which is found to be a disregard of Aadhaar Act and Regulations.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from news agency</em>)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


The temporary action was taken by the UIDAI after the allegations that Bharti Airtel is using the verification process to open payments bank accounts of its subscribers without their 'informed consent'

Bharti Airtel and Airtel Payments Banks have been temporarily banned from conducting Aadhaar-based SIM verification of Mobile customers using eKYC (ELectronic Know Your Customer) process and e-KYC of payments bank clients by Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The action was taken after the allegations that Bharti Airtel is using the Aadhaar-eKYC based SIM verification process to open payments bank accounts of its subscribers without their "informed consent." As Airtel is on the interim ban, it won't be able to e-verify or link mobile SIMs with the Aadhaar ID through the eKYC process of UIDAI. Customers also won't be able open their new account in Airtel Payment Bank. A spokesperson for Airtel said, "We can confirm that we have received an interim order from the UIDAI regarding temporary suspension of Aadhaar linked e-KYC services till their satisfaction on certain processes relating to Airtel payment banks onboarding of customers." "We are engaging with the authority and are hopeful of an early resolution. We are also undertaking to complete the said actions on priority and have commenced thorough checks of our process flows. "Being compliant to all guidelines is paramount to us. In the interim, any inconvenience to our customers is regretted." The UIDAI also took strong objection to the allegations that such payment bank accounts are being linked to receive LPG subsidy. The Airtel and Airtel Banks are found be violating a different section of the Aadhaar Act 2016, which mandates explicit consent of the individuals. According to the law, the violations could lead to a fine of one lakh per day and termination of authentication user agreements. Airtel has been opening Airtel Payments Bank Account, without the consent of the user, as they link the SIMs to the Aadhaar card. According to reports, more than 23 Lakh customers have their Airtel Payments Bank Account without any prior awareness. UIDAI observed that as per agreement with the authority, Airtel and Airtel bank are under obligation to ensure security and privacy of a resident's identity information. An audit has also been ordered to examine if the Airtel and Airtel Payments Bank are in compliance with the Aadhaar Act. It will be conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers. According to the sources, when Airtel received the first notice it stated that they have amended the process and the opening of a bank account is delinked from the verification process. Airtel also received a notice after the previous but even then the authority was receiving complaints about the unauthorised opening of Airtel Payments Bank accounts. UIDAI also reviewed the Airtel Mobile app in which they saw that along with the welcome message, a pre-ticked consent box appears for a moment which states, "Upgrade or create my Airtel Payment Bank wallet using existing Airtel mobile KYC" which is found to be a disregard of Aadhaar Act and Regulations. (With inputs from news agency)

Airtel banned from Aadhaar-eKYC based SIM verification

<p>The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on a clutch of pleas seeking a stay on the government&#39;s decision to link Aadhaar with various welfare schemes.</p>

<p>The order will be pronounced on Friday.</p>

<p>A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the final hearing on petitions challenging the Aadhaar scheme itself would start from January 17 next year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Attorney General KK Venugopal, arguing for the Centre, said Thursday that the government was willing to extend the deadline (for the linking of Aadhaar to avail the benefits of welfare schemes) up to March 31 next year.</p>

<p>Venugopal, however, told the bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, that Aadhaar should remain mandatory for the opening of new bank accounts.</p>

<p>Gopal Subramanium, arguing for the petitioners, said &quot;the voluntary nature of Aadhaar must be underscored. This is an encroachment on judicial path. 139 government notifications have made it compulsory. The sanctity of judicial order must remain intact.&quot;</p>

<p>KTS Tulsi and Anand Grover, also arguning for the petitioners, said &quot;without data protection law, Aadhaar cannot be made compulsory. 210 government websites have been breached once the data is exposed there is no process of rescinding or withdrawing. The agencies obtain this data and further supply it to Pakistan and unverified sources. And if data is breached, Aadhaar cannot protect it.</p>

<p>The government had on Wednesday extended the deadline, till March 31, for the linking of Aadhaar and PAN numbers for bank accounts and certain financial transactions.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There is however no word yet on extending the February 6, 2018 deadline for the linking of mobile SIM cards with Aadhaar.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em></p>


The order will be pronounced on pleas seeking a stay on the mandatory linking of Aadhaar to avail various welfare schemes

The Supreme Court on Thursday reserved its order on a clutch of pleas seeking a stay on the government's decision to link Aadhaar with various welfare schemes. The order will be pronounced on Friday. A five-judge Constitution bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the final hearing on petitions challenging the Aadhaar scheme itself would start from January 17 next year. Attorney General KK Venugopal, arguing for the Centre, said Thursday that the government was willing to extend the deadline (for the linking of Aadhaar to avail the benefits of welfare schemes) up to March 31 next year. Venugopal, however, told the bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, that Aadhaar should remain mandatory for the opening of new bank accounts. Gopal Subramanium, arguing for the petitioners, said "the voluntary nature of Aadhaar must be underscored. This is an encroachment on judicial path. 139 government notifications have made it compulsory. The sanctity of judicial order must remain intact." KTS Tulsi and Anand Grover, also arguning for the petitioners, said "without data protection law, Aadhaar cannot be made compulsory. 210 government websites have been breached once the data is exposed there is no process of rescinding or withdrawing. The agencies obtain this data and further supply it to Pakistan and unverified sources. And if data is breached, Aadhaar cannot protect it. The government had on Wednesday extended the deadline, till March 31, for the linking of Aadhaar and PAN numbers for bank accounts and certain financial transactions. There is however no word yet on extending the February 6, 2018 deadline for the linking of mobile SIM cards with Aadhaar. (With inputs from PTI)

Aadhaar linking with welfare schemes: Supreme Court to pronounce order Friday

<p>UIDAI, the authority which issues Aadhaar, has come up to reject all speculations revolving around the extension of this month&#39;s deadline. &quot;That Aadhaar Act being in force, all notifications for requiring Aadhaar for various welfare programmes, verifying bank account, PAN card and SIM card with Aadhaar stand valid and lawful,&quot; it said in a statement.</p>

<p>While <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/aadhar-card-central-government-willing-to-extend-linking-of-aadhaar-till-march-31-2018-26128" target="_blank">the last date for linking the unique identification number</a> with bank accounts, insurance policies, PAN, ration card and UAN remains December 31, 2017, petitioners will have to link their mobile numbers to their 12-digit Aadhaar number by February 2018.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&quot;Today&#39;s legal position is that there is no stay as on December 7, 2017, from the Supreme Court on Aadhaar and its linking to various services,&quot; it added. The UIDAI has also asked people not to get misled by an outdated video doing rounds in the social media and Whatsapp, &quot;people should instead verify their banks accounts, investment accounts, SIM cards, etc as per the current laws and deadlines as early as possible to avoid any inconvenience,&quot; the official statement clarified.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In March 2017, the Income Tax Act was amended to make Aadhaar mandatory for PAN cards. PML Rules were also amended this year in June to make Aadhaar mandatory for linking all insurance policies, bank accounts, pension, mutual funds and DMAT accounts among others.</p>

<p>Speculations and rumours around the extension of Aadhaar-linking got stronger when media reported Thursday on the fact that the central government informed the Supreme Court about its willingness to extend this year&#39;s deadline to March 31, 2018.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from PTI)</em></p>


Petitioners will have to link their mobile numbers to their 12-digit Aadhaar number by February 2018

UIDAI, the authority which issues Aadhaar, has come up to reject all speculations revolving around the extension of this month's deadline. "That Aadhaar Act being in force, all notifications for requiring Aadhaar for various welfare programmes, verifying bank account, PAN card and SIM card with Aadhaar stand valid and lawful," it said in a statement. While the last date for linking the unique identification number with bank accounts, insurance policies, PAN, ration card and UAN remains December 31, 2017, petitioners will have to link their mobile numbers to their 12-digit Aadhaar number by February 2018. "Today's legal position is that there is no stay as on December 7, 2017, from the Supreme Court on Aadhaar and its linking to various services," it added. The UIDAI has also asked people not to get misled by an outdated video doing rounds in the social media and Whatsapp, "people should instead verify their banks accounts, investment accounts, SIM cards, etc as per the current laws and deadlines as early as possible to avoid any inconvenience," the official statement clarified. In March 2017, the Income Tax Act was amended to make Aadhaar mandatory for PAN cards. PML Rules were also amended this year in June to make Aadhaar mandatory for linking all insurance policies, bank accounts, pension, mutual funds and DMAT accounts among others. Speculations and rumours around the extension of Aadhaar-linking got stronger when media reported Thursday on the fact that the central government informed the Supreme Court about its willingness to extend this year's deadline to March 31, 2018. (With inputs from PTI)

Last date for linking Aadhaar number stays, UIDAI clarifies

<p>As many as 500 missing children have been traced through the Aadhaar biometric identification card over the last few months, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) revealed on Friday.</p>

<p>&quot;Over the last few months, more than 500 missing children have been identified through Aadhaar,&quot; UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said while addressing a session at the Global Conference on Cyberspace (GCCS) 2017.</p>

<p>Explaining how this was achieved, he said that a child found in an orphanage underwent Aadhaar enrolment and it was found that his/her 12-digit biometric identifier had already been made.</p>

<p>&quot;...Through that we are able to trace,&quot; the UIDAI CEO said, adding on a lighter note that the script of classic Bollywood potboilers about siblings separating and re-uniting after decades would now have to be re-worked with Aadhaar in the picture.</p>

<p>According to child rights NGO CRY (Child Rights and You), about 180 children go missing on an average every day.</p>

<p>The number of children who went missing and remain untraced across the country increased by about 84 per cent between 2013 and 2015, CRY said.</p>

<p>India has the largest number of children in the world. As per the 2011 census, about 40 per cent of the 1.2 billion population was below 18 years of age.</p>

<p>Mr Pandey, who was speaking at the session on &quot;Digital Identity for All: Global Best Practices&quot;, further said the total savings so far on account of Aadhaar was over USD 10 billion as its linkages to various government schemes had helped remove &quot;ghosts and duplicates&quot; from the system.</p>

<p>Once Aadhaar is linked to more government programmes and subsidies, the savings could be USD 10 billion every year, he said.</p>

<p>Total Aadhaar base currently stands at 1.19 billion, the UDAI CEO said, adding that 99 per cent of adults have Aadhaar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>(<em>With inputs from PTI</em>)<br />
&nbsp;</p>


As many as 500 missing children have been traced through the Aadhaar biometric identification card over the last few months, the Unique Identification Authority of India revealed

As many as 500 missing children have been traced through the Aadhaar biometric identification card over the last few months, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) revealed on Friday. "Over the last few months, more than 500 missing children have been identified through Aadhaar," UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said while addressing a session at the Global Conference on Cyberspace (GCCS) 2017. Explaining how this was achieved, he said that a child found in an orphanage underwent Aadhaar enrolment and it was found that his/her 12-digit biometric identifier had already been made. "...Through that we are able to trace," the UIDAI CEO said, adding on a lighter note that the script of classic Bollywood potboilers about siblings separating and re-uniting after decades would now have to be re-worked with Aadhaar in the picture. According to child rights NGO CRY (Child Rights and You), about 180 children go missing on an average every day. The number of children who went missing and remain untraced across the country increased by about 84 per cent between 2013 and 2015, CRY said. India has the largest number of children in the world. As per the 2011 census, about 40 per cent of the 1.2 billion population was below 18 years of age. Mr Pandey, who was speaking at the session on "Digital Identity for All: Global Best Practices", further said the total savings so far on account of Aadhaar was over USD 10 billion as its linkages to various government schemes had helped remove "ghosts and duplicates" from the system. Once Aadhaar is linked to more government programmes and subsidies, the savings could be USD 10 billion every year, he said. Total Aadhaar base currently stands at 1.19 billion, the UDAI CEO said, adding that 99 per cent of adults have Aadhaar. (With inputs from PTI)

500 missing children traced through Aadhaar: UIDAI

<p>More than 200 central and state government websites publicly displayed details such as names and addresses of some Aadhaar beneficiaries, the Unique Identification Authority of India has said.<br />
<br />
The Aadhaar issuing body added, in response to an RTI query, that it took note of the breach and got the data removed from those websites.</p>

<p>It did not specify when the breach took place.</p>

<p>It said Aadhaar details have never been made public from/by UIDAI.</p>

<p>&quot;However, it was found that approximately 210 websites of central government, state government departments including educational institutes were displaying the list of beneficiaries along with their name, address, other details and Aadhaar numbers for information of general public,&quot; it said.</p>

<p>The UIDAI took note and got the Aadhaar data removed from the said websites, it said in reply to the RTI application.</p>

<p>UIDAI issues Aadhaar -- a 12-digit unique identification number -- which acts as a proof of identity and address anywhere in the country.</p>

<p>The central government is in the process of making Aadhaar mandatory for people to avail benefits of various social service schemes.</p>

<p>&quot;UIDAI has a well-designed, multi-layer approach robust security system in place and the same is being constantly upgraded to maintain highest level of data security and integrity,&quot; the RTI reply said.</p>

<p>The architecture of the Aadhaar ecosystem has been designed to ensure data security and privacy which is an integral part of the system from the initial design to the final stage, it said.</p>

<p>&quot;Various policies and procedures have been defined, these are reviewed and updated continually thereby appropriately controlling and monitoring any movement of people, material and data in and out of UIDAI premises, particularly the data centres,&quot; the UIDAI said.</p>

<p>It said security audits are conducted on a regular basis to further strengthen security and privacy of data. Besides this, all possible steps are taken to make the data safer and protected, the authority said.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


More than 200 central and state government websites publicly displayed details such as names and addresses of some Aadhaar beneficiaries, the Unique Identification Authority of India has said

More than 200 central and state government websites publicly displayed details such as names and addresses of some Aadhaar beneficiaries, the Unique Identification Authority of India has said. The Aadhaar issuing body added, in response to an RTI query, that it took note of the breach and got the data removed from those websites. It did not specify when the breach took place. It said Aadhaar details have never been made public from/by UIDAI. "However, it was found that approximately 210 websites of central government, state government departments including educational institutes were displaying the list of beneficiaries along with their name, address, other details and Aadhaar numbers for information of general public," it said. The UIDAI took note and got the Aadhaar data removed from the said websites, it said in reply to the RTI application. UIDAI issues Aadhaar -- a 12-digit unique identification number -- which acts as a proof of identity and address anywhere in the country. The central government is in the process of making Aadhaar mandatory for people to avail benefits of various social service schemes. "UIDAI has a well-designed, multi-layer approach robust security system in place and the same is being constantly upgraded to maintain highest level of data security and integrity," the RTI reply said. The architecture of the Aadhaar ecosystem has been designed to ensure data security and privacy which is an integral part of the system from the initial design to the final stage, it said. "Various policies and procedures have been defined, these are reviewed and updated continually thereby appropriately controlling and monitoring any movement of people, material and data in and out of UIDAI premises, particularly the data centres," the UIDAI said. It said security audits are conducted on a regular basis to further strengthen security and privacy of data. Besides this, all possible steps are taken to make the data safer and protected, the authority said.

210 govt websites made public Aadhaar details: UIDAI

<p>Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) was called upon to decide the Constitutional validity of Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, which provides that every Pan Card holder or Income Tax Assessee has to compulsorily enroll for an Aadhaar Card.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A challenge was laid to this Provision, inter alia on the ground that though the &lsquo;Aadhaar Act&rsquo; prescribes that enrolment to Aadhaar is voluntary as per Section 139AA which, however, adds an element of compulsion.&nbsp;<br />
It may be recalled that by way of interim Orders, the Supreme Court made it clear that Aadhaar could only be used for certain schemes like MGNREGS, Pensions, Jan Dhan Yojana, Provident Fund, public distribution of food grains and cooking fuels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Petitioners, thus, argued that Section 139AA was in violation of the Orders which provided that Aadhaar could not be used for any other purpose.&nbsp;Besides, it was also emphasised that there is a valid risk of leakage and hacking of the database.&nbsp;The Court, after a careful consideration of the submissions from both sides, held that the Parliament is empowered to make a particular Provision directory in one statute (Aadhaar Act) and compulsory in the other (Income Tax Act). That by itself cannot be a ground to question the competence of the Legislature.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Court recognised the various advantages of Aadhaar such as (i) benefits of welfare schemes reaching people for whom they were meant; (ii) tackling corruption and black money; (iii) helping enforcement agencies to combat terrorism and other crimes; (iv) weeding out duplicate PANs.On the issue of PAN, the Court observed it has an impact on day to day activities and commercial transactions. Therefore, till the larger aspects of Right to Privacy and human dignity, etc. are not decided by the Constitution Bench, it is necessary to impose a partial stay to prevent PANs being made invalid retrospectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>Implementation of Aadhaar, in its present form raises a number of concerns, which have either been dealt with quite casually by the Government or have not been addressed at all</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>It must be respectfully stated that there are a few aspects which the Court does not seem to have fully considered. More importantly, the manner in which Aadhaar is sought to be implemented by the Government is not entirely appropriate either.&nbsp;There is no doubt that the initiative of the present Government is praiseworthy. Its advantages are undeniable. However, despite these apparent advantages, the implementation of Aadhaar, in its present form raises a number of concerns, which have either been dealt with quite casually by the Government or have not been addressed at all.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A valid concern is that of possible data leak collected from the individuals. Although the Court in its Judgment, recognises data leak as a real possibility, it only states that this concern needs to be addressed by the Government by ensuring that a proper scheme in this regard is devised at the earliest.&nbsp;Despite this direction, which itself is more of an observation, there is little chance that the Government may do much about it, given the manner in which it has approached the security concern so far. Till date, neither in the Parliament nor in the Court has the Government been able to provide a clear plan on how it would go ahead in tackling this critical issue.&nbsp;It is important to mention that the present Bench of two Judges (Sikri and Bhushan J.J.) was only called upon to look into the Constitutional validity of Section 139AA. The larger issue of whether Aadhaar impinges on the &lsquo;Right to Privacy&rsquo; and &lsquo;Human Dignity&rsquo; is pending before the larger Constitution Bench.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two Judge Bench had made it clear that it was not going to touch upon the Privacy issue. Had the Petitioners insisted on arguing the right to privacy, the matter would have been &lsquo;tagged&rsquo; with the pending challenge before the Constitution Bench.&nbsp;Instead, the Petitioners decided that they would not be raising the &lsquo;Right to Privacy&rsquo; and would be questioning the validity of Section 139AA, primarily on Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution.&nbsp;<br />
In my humble view, whether it is a challenge to the Aadhaar Act itself before the Constitution Bench, or to Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act before the Division Bench, neither of these cases can be decided effectively without touching upon concepts of &lsquo;Right to Privacy&rsquo;, &lsquo;Bodily Integrity&rsquo; and &lsquo;Informational Self-Determination&rsquo;. By giving up arguments of Privacy etc., the Petitioners have unfortunately fought with one hand tied behind their backs.<br />
It appears that the Petitioners chose to go ahead before the Division Bench by giving up the &lsquo;Privacy&rsquo; argument since the Constitution Bench had not been able to take up the matter for final determination despite various urgent mentionings. In addition, the deadline of &nbsp;July 1, 2017, mentioned in Section 139AA for linking PAN cards and Income Tax Returns was fast approaching.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
The larger challenge before the Constitution Bench has itself been pending for a very long time now. In the meantime, the Government is going ahead rapidly with the implementation, thereby leading to a possible situation where the entire challenge may become only academic, if not redundant.&nbsp;The Government, in going ahead (however noble or much needed the step may be), without addressing or properly analysing the risks it is clearly putting the cart before the Horse. It cannot be denied that there are certain pressing apprehensions that require immediate attention.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>UIDAI has lodged a criminal complaint, saying that certain firms have been storing biometrics and using them illegally</h5>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Such database may create opportunities for people who are vulnerable or perceived as a threat. For instance, a person may be implicated falsely by the Police in serious cases, such as terrorism or murder by simply taking his fingerprints from the database and planting them at the scene of the crime. History has shown us time and again, the propensity of investigative agencies to incriminate people falsely. There is also a huge concern about private or foreign entities being contracted to collect and store data. If the registration machines do not belong to the State, it is extremely difficult for the State to guarantee that such sensitive information will not be leaked or misused.&nbsp;<br />
It was recently reported that the UIDAI has lodged a criminal complaint, saying that certain firms have been storing biometrics and using them illegally. With the growing footprint of Aadhaar and the same being made mandatory, such crimes are only likely to rise in the future. Unfortunately, we are not ready to handle mass online attacks, in a space where criminals are getting more sophisticated every day. On the other hand, our Cyber Crime Cells are lagging abysmally behind, with little or no training being imparted to these so-called specialised Police Officers.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One major criticism of the Aadhaar Act is that it came to be passed as a Money Bill, cleverly escaping passage through the Rajya Sabha. It is difficult to understand how &lsquo;Aadhaar&rsquo; was categorised as a Money Bill. In fact, at the time when the Bill was passed on 11.03.2016 by the Lok Sabha, the attendance was merely 73 persons out of a total strength of 543 members. When the Rajya Sabha returned the Bill with suggestions/amendments, they were taken up by the Lok Sabha on 16.03.2016 and none of the amendments/suggestions was accepted. Running down the Parliamentary Institution and Procedures sets a very dangerous trend, which must be avoided at all costs.&nbsp;<br />
The possibility per se of misuse does not render a Legislation invalid. However, with the nature of this project, the risk is too high to not be addressed in a proper manner. The least that such an ambitious project required was a proper and informed debate in both houses of the Parliament as also, inviting suggestions from all stakeholders, including the public at large.</p>

<p>It is also difficult to understand the extreme urgency to implement Aadhaar when its Constitutionality is yet to be determined by the Court.&nbsp;If there are genuine apprehensions in the minds of the citizens in parting with sensitive information and linking it with various aspects of their daily life, it is the bounden duty of the State to allay such fears.&nbsp;Despite all odds, however, the citizens, ever hopeful and optimistic, place their faith in the government&rsquo;s intention to address such grave issues and not wait for it to turn into a tool for abuse.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As it has been said, &ldquo;our eyes were on the other-world, the stars, the Gods. We didn&rsquo;t keep watch on the world around us. And when we eventually lowered our heads and studied the waters closer to home, it was too late&rdquo;.</p>


Recently, the Supreme Court (SC) was called upon to decide the Constitutional validity of Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act, which provides that every Pan Card holder or Income Tax Assessee has to compulsorily enroll for an Aadhaar Card. A challenge was laid to this Provision, inter alia on the ground that though the ‘Aadhaar Act’ prescribes that enrolment to Aadhaar is voluntary as per Section 139AA which, however, adds an element of compulsion. It may be recalled that by way of interim Orders, the Supreme Court made it clear that Aadhaar could only be used for certain schemes like MGNREGS, Pensions, Jan Dhan Yojana, Provident Fund, public distribution of food grains and cooking fuels. There is a valid risk of leakage and hacking of the database × The Petitioners, thus, argued that Section 139AA was in violation of the Orders which provided that Aadhaar could not be used for any other purpose. Besides, it was also emphasised that there is a valid risk of leakage and hacking of the database. The Court, after a careful consideration of the submissions from both sides, held that the Parliament is empowered to make a particular Provision directory in one statute (Aadhaar Act) and compulsory in the other (Income Tax Act). That by itself cannot be a ground to question the competence of the Legislature. The Court recognised the various advantages of Aadhaar such as (i) benefits of welfare schemes reaching people for whom they were meant; (ii) tackling corruption and black money; (iii) helping enforcement agencies to combat terrorism and other crimes; (iv) weeding out duplicate PANs.On the issue of PAN, the Court observed it has an impact on day to day activities and commercial transactions. Therefore, till the larger aspects of Right to Privacy and human dignity, etc. are not decided by the Constitution Bench, it is necessary to impose a partial stay to prevent PANs being made invalid retrospectively. Implementation of Aadhaar, in its present form raises a number of concerns, which have either been dealt with quite casually by the Government or have not been addressed at all × It must be respectfully stated that there are a few aspects which the Court does not seem to have fully considered. More importantly, the manner in which Aadhaar is sought to be implemented by the Government is not entirely appropriate either. There is no doubt that the initiative of the present Government is praiseworthy. Its advantages are undeniable. However, despite these apparent advantages, the implementation of Aadhaar, in its present form raises a number of concerns, which have either been dealt with quite casually by the Government or have not been addressed at all. A valid concern is that of possible data leak collected from the individuals. Although the Court in its Judgment, recognises data leak as a real possibility, it only states that this concern needs to be addressed by the Government by ensuring that a proper scheme in this regard is devised at the earliest. Despite this direction, which itself is more of an observation, there is little chance that the Government may do much about it, given the manner in which it has approached the security concern so far. Till date, neither in the Parliament nor in the Court has the Government been able to provide a clear plan on how it would go ahead in tackling this critical issue. It is important to mention that the present Bench of two Judges (Sikri and Bhushan J.J.) was only called upon to look into the Constitutional validity of Section 139AA. The larger issue of whether Aadhaar impinges on the ‘Right to Privacy’ and ‘Human Dignity’ is pending before the larger Constitution Bench. The two Judge Bench had made it clear that it was not going to touch upon the Privacy issue. Had the Petitioners insisted on arguing the right to privacy, the matter would have been ‘tagged’ with the pending challenge before the Constitution Bench. Instead, the Petitioners decided that they would not be raising the ‘Right to Privacy’ and would be questioning the validity of Section 139AA, primarily on Articles 14 and 19 of the Constitution. In my humble view, whether it is a challenge to the Aadhaar Act itself before the Constitution Bench, or to Section 139AA of the Income Tax Act before the Division Bench, neither of these cases can be decided effectively without touching upon concepts of ‘Right to Privacy’, ‘Bodily Integrity’ and ‘Informational Self-Determination’. By giving up arguments of Privacy etc., the Petitioners have unfortunately fought with one hand tied behind their backs. It appears that the Petitioners chose to go ahead before the Division Bench by giving up the ‘Privacy’ argument since the Constitution Bench had not been able to take up the matter for final determination despite various urgent mentionings. In addition, the deadline of July 1, 2017, mentioned in Section 139AA for linking PAN cards and Income Tax Returns was fast approaching. The larger challenge before the Constitution Bench has itself been pending for a very long time now. In the meantime, the Government is going ahead rapidly with the implementation, thereby leading to a possible situation where the entire challenge may become only academic, if not redundant. The Government, in going ahead (however noble or much needed the step may be), without addressing or properly analysing the risks it is clearly putting the cart before the Horse. It cannot be denied that there are certain pressing apprehensions that require immediate attention. UIDAI has lodged a criminal complaint, saying that certain firms have been storing biometrics and using them illegally × Such database may create opportunities for people who are vulnerable or perceived as a threat. For instance, a person may be implicated falsely by the Police in serious cases, such as terrorism or murder by simply taking his fingerprints from the database and planting them at the scene of the crime. History has shown us time and again, the propensity of investigative agencies to incriminate people falsely. There is also a huge concern about private or foreign entities being contracted to collect and store data. If the registration machines do not belong to the State, it is extremely difficult for the State to guarantee that such sensitive information will not be leaked or misused. It was recently reported that the UIDAI has lodged a criminal complaint, saying that certain firms have been storing biometrics and using them illegally. With the growing footprint of Aadhaar and the same being made mandatory, such crimes are only likely to rise in the future. Unfortunately, we are not ready to handle mass online attacks, in a space where criminals are getting more sophisticated every day. On the other hand, our Cyber Crime Cells are lagging abysmally behind, with little or no training being imparted to these so-called specialised Police Officers. One major criticism of the Aadhaar Act is that it came to be passed as a Money Bill, cleverly escaping passage through the Rajya Sabha. It is difficult to understand how ‘Aadhaar’ was categorised as a Money Bill. In fact, at the time when the Bill was passed on 11.03.2016 by the Lok Sabha, the attendance was merely 73 persons out of a total strength of 543 members. When the Rajya Sabha returned the Bill with suggestions/amendments, they were taken up by the Lok Sabha on 16.03.2016 and none of the amendments/suggestions was accepted. Running down the Parliamentary Institution and Procedures sets a very dangerous trend, which must be avoided at all costs. The possibility per se of misuse does not render a Legislation invalid. However, with the nature of this project, the risk is too high to not be addressed in a proper manner. The least that such an ambitious project required was a proper and informed debate in both houses of the Parliament as also, inviting suggestions from all stakeholders, including the public at large. It is also difficult to understand the extreme urgency to implement Aadhaar when its Constitutionality is yet to be determined by the Court. If there are genuine apprehensions in the minds of the citizens in parting with sensitive information and linking it with various aspects of their daily life, it is the bounden duty of the State to allay such fears. Despite all odds, however, the citizens, ever hopeful and optimistic, place their faith in the government’s intention to address such grave issues and not wait for it to turn into a tool for abuse. As it has been said, “our eyes were on the other-world, the stars, the Gods. We didn’t keep watch on the world around us. And when we eventually lowered our heads and studied the waters closer to home, it was too late”.

Aadhaar: Putting the Cart before the Horse

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prima facie, it looks like any other government establishment. It does not even purport to be any different, relying predictably on glass and wood decor. What goes on inside here, however, is what makes this Connaught Place office unique. The third floor of Jeevan Bharti building, in the heart of New Delhi, houses the UIDAI headquarter. Engendering fierce debates over privacy and related issues, India&rsquo;s citizen unique identity assignation programme has emerged as the world&rsquo;s largest biometric identification programmes. As per the latest records, almost 99 per cent Indians have already enrolled for their Aadhar cards issued by UIDAI.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>I stepped inside this office wearing the very visible robe of privilege. The effectively air-conditioned office kept the heat, and despair, away. Apart from the usual bureaucratic activity, the office was abuzz with demands from the &ldquo;who&rsquo;s who&rdquo; of the country helping their friends and family get enrolled. With my four-year-old Aadhar card resting pretty in my wallet, I soak in the environment.&nbsp;</p>

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<h5>With the forthcoming rolling out of &ldquo;Aadhar Pay,&rdquo; an Aadhar linked biometrics based payment system, misuse of personal and biometric data may have serious financial implications.&nbsp;</h5>
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<p>One of the officials proudly shared how 1.2 billion Indians now have their cards. Except they don&rsquo;t. Our tete-a-tete was interrupted by a telephone call. The caller was complaining about the non-delivery of Aadhar card. Our friendly official tried to assuage this concern by sharing how the e-Aadhar was equally valid. It is the number that matters. The caller, on the other hand, refused to be mollycoddled. Perhaps her bank had given her an ultimatum. Demonetisation seems to have imbued the banks with demonic powers.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>This 10-minute long conversation told a sordid tale of how India has a rare talent of poorly executing even the best laid out plans. The friendly official told the hyperventilating caller that UIDAI was not responsible for postal delays. There were several complaints resting on his table in this regard. Alright then, it is one government establishment pointing at the inefficiency of another!</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Interestingly, the passport division does not have many such complaints. Is money spent by the applicant for procuring different documents a factor in their respective service delivery? It should be noted that the Aadhar applicants pay nothing to get enrolled.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Non-delivery and delays are, however, only the tip of the iceberg. The anti-Aadhar activists have been raising alarm over the possibility of data theft and related privacy concerns. The chinks in the data security fabric of UIDAI are seen as the fountainhead of inescapable state surveillance and identity theft related crimes. With the forthcoming rolling out of &ldquo;Aadhar Pay,&rdquo; an Aadhar linked biometrics based payment system, misuse of personal and biometric data may have serious financial implications.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>The friendly official, however, said that people are opposing Aadhar more vehemently now than ever before because of it being linked to their banking and taxation footprints. Financial misdemeanours shall now be easily traceable, making it difficult for the culprits to get away. &ldquo;In India, people are habituated to oppose any new thing that may cause them even slightest inconvenience,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before I could draw his attention to the 2015 security breach in the US wherein 21.5 million government employees&rsquo; records were hacked and 5.2 million fingerprints copied, the phone rang again. This time it was the PSO of a senior bureaucrat. Some relatives needed to be enrolled without having to stand in the queues at the Aadhar centres.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>UIDAI will store personal data for seven years. The very thought causes one to shudder given Indian government&rsquo;s poor track record on cybersecurity. However, in a statement made last month UIDAI assured, &ldquo;There has been no incident of misuse of Aadhaar biometrics leading to identity theft and financial loss during the last five years when more than 400 crore Aadhaar authentication transactions have taken place.&rdquo;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Is this, then, all about resisting a state sponsored web of citizen surveillance? The friendly official certainly thinks so. &ldquo;What is wrong in the government knowing about our credits and debits? As salaried personnel, our earnings, tax deductions, and expenditures are on record anyway. Only those who have something to hide are worried about this step towards bringing in more transparency,&rdquo; he said.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>But what about the government&rsquo;s commitment to transparency? How can an Aadhar card holder know whether his data is safe with the government? Is it enough to have the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification directorate under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology give out the &ldquo;your data is safe with us&rdquo; declarations? How does a common citizen, whose experience with most government offices is less than pleasant and satisfactory, believe that experts are dealing with her identity? After all, there are records of Aadhar cards being mistakenly issued to not only pet and stray animals but also deities. &nbsp;</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Our friendly official in the UIDAI headquarters can only go thus far and no further when it comes to instilling confidence about Aadhar. Until the government takes visible strides in the realm of cyber security, Aadhar will continue to stand on shaky grounds.&nbsp;</p>


Despite the promises of data safety, there is very little the Indian government has done to instill confidence about Aadhar

Prima facie, it looks like any other government establishment. It does not even purport to be any different, relying predictably on glass and wood decor. What goes on inside here, however, is what makes this Connaught Place office unique. The third floor of Jeevan Bharti building, in the heart of New Delhi, houses the UIDAI headquarter. Engendering fierce debates over privacy and related issues, India’s citizen unique identity assignation programme has emerged as the world’s largest biometric identification programmes. As per the latest records, almost 99 per cent Indians have already enrolled for their Aadhar cards issued by UIDAI. I stepped inside this office wearing the very visible robe of privilege. The effectively air-conditioned office kept the heat, and despair, away. Apart from the usual bureaucratic activity, the office was abuzz with demands from the “who’s who” of the country helping their friends and family get enrolled. With my four-year-old Aadhar card resting pretty in my wallet, I soak in the environment. With the forthcoming rolling out of “Aadhar Pay,” an Aadhar linked biometrics based payment system, misuse of personal and biometric data may have serious financial implications. × One of the officials proudly shared how 1.2 billion Indians now have their cards. Except they don’t. Our tete-a-tete was interrupted by a telephone call. The caller was complaining about the non-delivery of Aadhar card. Our friendly official tried to assuage this concern by sharing how the e-Aadhar was equally valid. It is the number that matters. The caller, on the other hand, refused to be mollycoddled. Perhaps her bank had given her an ultimatum. Demonetisation seems to have imbued the banks with demonic powers. This 10-minute long conversation told a sordid tale of how India has a rare talent of poorly executing even the best laid out plans. The friendly official told the hyperventilating caller that UIDAI was not responsible for postal delays. There were several complaints resting on his table in this regard. Alright then, it is one government establishment pointing at the inefficiency of another! Interestingly, the passport division does not have many such complaints. Is money spent by the applicant for procuring different documents a factor in their respective service delivery? It should be noted that the Aadhar applicants pay nothing to get enrolled. Non-delivery and delays are, however, only the tip of the iceberg. The anti-Aadhar activists have been raising alarm over the possibility of data theft and related privacy concerns. The chinks in the data security fabric of UIDAI are seen as the fountainhead of inescapable state surveillance and identity theft related crimes. With the forthcoming rolling out of “Aadhar Pay,” an Aadhar linked biometrics based payment system, misuse of personal and biometric data may have serious financial implications. Only those who have something to hide are worried about this step towards bringing in more transparency × The friendly official, however, said that people are opposing Aadhar more vehemently now than ever before because of it being linked to their banking and taxation footprints. Financial misdemeanours shall now be easily traceable, making it difficult for the culprits to get away. “In India, people are habituated to oppose any new thing that may cause them even slightest inconvenience,” he said. Before I could draw his attention to the 2015 security breach in the US wherein 21.5 million government employees’ records were hacked and 5.2 million fingerprints copied, the phone rang again. This time it was the PSO of a senior bureaucrat. Some relatives needed to be enrolled without having to stand in the queues at the Aadhar centres. UIDAI will store personal data for seven years. The very thought causes one to shudder given Indian government’s poor track record on cybersecurity. However, in a statement made last month UIDAI assured, “There has been no incident of misuse of Aadhaar biometrics leading to identity theft and financial loss during the last five years when more than 400 crore Aadhaar authentication transactions have taken place.” Is this, then, all about resisting a state sponsored web of citizen surveillance? The friendly official certainly thinks so. “What is wrong in the government knowing about our credits and debits? As salaried personnel, our earnings, tax deductions, and expenditures are on record anyway. Only those who have something to hide are worried about this step towards bringing in more transparency,” he said. But what about the government’s commitment to transparency? How can an Aadhar card holder know whether his data is safe with the government? Is it enough to have the Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification directorate under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology give out the “your data is safe with us” declarations? How does a common citizen, whose experience with most government offices is less than pleasant and satisfactory, believe that experts are dealing with her identity? After all, there are records of Aadhar cards being mistakenly issued to not only pet and stray animals but also deities. Our friendly official in the UIDAI headquarters can only go thus far and no further when it comes to instilling confidence about Aadhar. Until the government takes visible strides in the realm of cyber security, Aadhar will continue to stand on shaky grounds.

The chaotic world of the Aadhar card

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