Lok Sabha Question No. 1561 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-12-27
Subject: Privacy of Aadhar Data
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: KULAMANI SAMAL, JITENDRA CHAUDHURY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.  1561

TO BE ANSWERED ON 27-12-2017

## PRIVACY OF AADHAR DATA

## 1561.   DR. KULAMANI SAMAL: SHRI JITENDRA CHAUDHURY:

Will  the  Minister  of  ELECTRONICS  AND  INFORMATION  TECHNOLOGY  be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that the Aadhaar data has been placed in the public domain as a measure  of  proactive  disclosure  under  the  RTI  Act  by  Government  and  various Institutional websites;
- (b) if so, the responsibility fixed in case there is any breach or leakage of Aadhaar data to any unscrupulous/fraud agencies;
- (c) whether it is a fact that the UIDAI has clarified that Aadhaar was not a secret number and could be shared with authorized agencies when an Aadhaar holder wishes to get service or benefit of Government schemes; and
- (d) if so, whether the Government has put any measures/mechanism to control fraudulent activities;
- (e) whether it is fact that usage of Aadhaar Card for bank accounts and mobile phone is not secure and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) the number of complaints registered for unauthorized disclosure of Aadhaar data and the action taken by the Government in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR  ELECTRONICS AND  INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ALPHONS KANNANTHANAM)

(a)  and  (b):  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. The concerned departments were instructed to remove the Aadhaar  and  other  personal  data  from  the  said  websites.  In  addition,  the  Central  and State  Governments  have  also  been  advised  to  sensitize  all  Ministries/  Departments  to take  all  precautions  while  publishing  or  sharing  data  on  their  websites  and  ensure compliance of Aadhaar Act, 2016 and Information Technology Act, 2000. However, No Aadhaar data with UIDAI has been placed in the public domain.

(c) and (d): Aadhaar number is not a secret number. Service or benefits of Government schemes are provided to the Aadhaar holders as per the provisions of Section 7 of the Aadhaar Act 2016. Sharing of information with the authorised agencies is done as per the provisions of the Aadhaar Act 2016. Section 29 (1) of the Aadhaar Act 2016 read together with Regulation 3(1) of the Aadhaar (Sharing of information) Regulations, 2016 categorically  states  that  no  core  biometric  information,  collected  or  created  under  the Aadhaar Act, shall be shared with anyone for any reason whatsoever; or used for any purpose  other  than  generation  of  Aadhaar  numbers  and  authentication  under  the  Act. Also,  Regulation  4(1)  of  the  Aadhaar  (Sharing  of  information)  Regulations,  2016 provides  that  core  biometric  information  collected  or  captured  by  a  requesting  entity from Aadhaar number holder at the time of authentication shall not be shared for any reason whatsoever. Further, Section 30 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016 applies the rigours of the IT Act, 2000 and the rules thereunder whereby Biometric Information is deemed to be Sensitive personal information. (e):        No, Sir. (e): There has been no complaint for unauthorized disclosure of Aadhaar data from UIDAI.

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