Aadhaar beats even the FBI’s data base fair and square, becoming the world’s largest biometric database

Too much humdrum over Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has finally resulted in something remarkable. The ambitious project of the UPA government has turned out to be probably the world's largest biometric identification programmes in the world.
As per a news report by The Economic Times, Data showed that the UIDAI has issued 81.78 crore cards, covering nearly 67% of the population. Uttar Pradesh had the highest number of enrolments with 10.48 crore cards while Maharashtra had 9.19 crore and West Bengal 6.12 crore up to April 20.

Available data shows that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) biometric database is way behind with 15 crore and with more Indians expected to register for Aadhaar, it could emerge as the largest programme of its kind globally.

The government persisted with Aadhaar after the former chairman of UIDAI Nandan Nilekani detailed the benefits of the Aadhaar card to PM Narendra Modi.

The government is using it extensively in targeting cooking gas subsidies in the petroleum sector.

"It is a very scientific and useful instrument. Although, we have not made it mandatory for the Aadhaar card for claiming subsidies, our experience has been positive," petroleum minister Dharmendra Pradhan told TOI.

The government is leaning heavily on the JAM Number Trinity " Jan Dhan Yojana, Aadhaar and Mobile " to better targsubsidies.

According to the Economic Survey, Aadhaar card enrolments were increasing at a rate of 2 crore per month. The government had seeded over 10 crore bank accounts with registered Aadhaar numbers by December 2014.

(Image: Reuters)