Overview#

Aadhaar which means 'foundation' is a 12 digit unique-identity number issued to all Indian residents based on their biometric and demographic data.

Aadhaar data is collected by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory authority established in January 2009 by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, under the provisions of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and other Subsidies, benefits and services) Act, 2016

Aadhaar is the world's largest biometric ID system, with over 1.19 billion enrolled members as of 30 Nov 2017 in which, over 99% of Indians aged 18 and above had been enrolled.

Aadhaar was described by World Bank Chief Economist Paul Romer described as "the most sophisticated ID programme in the world".

Privacy Considerations#

Aadhaar, owing to increasing concerns around privacy, the potential for surveillance, and exclusion of eligible beneficiaries from welfare schemes from the leveraging of Aadhaar-based systems, the Aadhaar project's validity is being challenged in the Supreme Court of India (as of November 2017).

More Information#

There might be more information for this subject on one of the following: ...nobody

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• [#1] - Aadhaar - based on information obtained 2017-12-19-