What's UIDAI, Aadhaar and UID

BANGALORE, INDIA: The UID project, the UPA government's flagship programme chaired by former co-chairman of Infosys Technologies Nandan Nilekani, seeks to accord each Indian a unique identification number.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is an agency of the Government of India responsible for implementing the AADHAAR scheme, a unique identification project.

It was established in February 2009 to own and operate the Unique Identification Number database. The authority aims to provide a unique ID number to all Indians, but not smart cards.

The authority will maintain a database of residents containing biometric and other data.

The UIDAI is part of the Planning Commission of India. Nandan Nilekani was appointed the first Chairman of the authority in June 2009.

Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique number issued to all residents in India. The number will be stored in a centralized database and linked to the basic demographics and biometric information — photograph, ten fingerprints and iris — of each individual.

It is easily verifiable in an online, cost-effective way.