Lok Sabha Question No. 3637 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-17
Subject: Cancellation of License of Centres Issuing Aadhaar Cards
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: Chandra Prakash Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3637

TO BE ANSWERED ON 17.03.2021

## CANCELLATION OF LICENSE OF CENTRES ISSUING  AADHAAR CARDS

## 3637.   SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI:

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

- (a) the number of Centres issuing/updating/ correcting Aadhaar Card whose license was cancelled during e of the last three years, State/UT-wise and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the manner in which the problems related to Aadhaar Cards are being redressed in areas after the closure these centres; and
- (c) the details along with the number of such closed centres in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR   ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI SANJAY DHOTRE)

(a)  to  (c):  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court,  while  disposing  of  Writ  Petition  (C)  No.  247  of  2017  and  Ors  da 09/06/2017  in  PAN-Aadhaar  linking  case,  inter-alia  stated  that '…  it  is  important  that  the  afores apprehensions are assuaged by taking proper measures so that confidence is instilled among the public large that there is no chance of unauthorized leakage of data whether it is done by tightening the operations the  contractors  who  are  given  the  job  of  enrolment,  they  being  private  persons  or  by  prescribing  sev penalties to those who are found guilty of leaking the details, is the outlook of the Government. However, emphasize that measures on this behalf are absolutely essential and it would be in the fitness of things t proper scheme in this behalf is devised at the earliest…'

The above security concerns about biometrics as well as other personal data had necessitated tightening of enrolment operations.

By that time, the Aadhaar saturation among adult population reached more than 90% saturation (as per cen 2011). UIDAI was required to create sustainable model of Aadhaar enrolment facility across the country i secure environment so that there is no misuse or tampering of the processes during data collection.

Chief Executive Officer, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), vide a D.O. dated 28 th June, 2 apprised all Chief Secretaries to the State Governments, its decision to shift the enrolment centres from priv and unsecured locations to secure government premises where direct supervision by the government could ensured.

Further, regarding Aadhaar Enrolment & update, it was decided to open approx 13,000 centres at Post Offic In addition, vide Gazette notification No. 13012/79/2017/Legal-UIDAI  dated 14-07-2017,  Schedu commercial banks were directed to open Aadhaar Enrolment & update centers in 10% of its Branches.

It was also decided to phase out all the private enrollment agencies (EA) for enrolment & update of Aadhaar by the end of December, 2017. Subsequently all the Registrars have started working as Enrolment agencies replacing the Private Enrolment agencies.

In order to expand the Aadhaar Enrolment & update services, UIDAI has also on-boarded State Government Departments  (such  as    Women  &  Child  Departments,  School  Education  Department  etc),  Navodaya Vidyalaya(NVS),  BSNL,  CSC,  UTIITSL  etc.  for  carrying  out  Aadhaar  Enrolment  &  Update  activities.  In addition  to  this,  UIDAI  is  in  the  process  of  opening  and  running  165  Aadhaar  Seva  Kendras  at  105  Cities across the country through its Service Providers.

As on 28 th February 2021, around 56000 Aadhaar counters are operational throughout India.

- To consider the update requirement and ease of doing update from home, for residents who have linked their mobile with Aadhaar, UIDAI permitted update of demographic fields (Name, Gender, DoB, Address) though online Self Service Update Portal (SSUP).
- Considering the probability for increased demand for mobile update, UIDAI on-boarded India Post Payments Bank (IPPB) to provide mobile update service through its vast network of Postmen/ Dak Sevaks.
- It is further submitted that opening or closing of Center at a particular location is carried out by the Registrars of UIDAI such as State Government Departments, Department of Posts, Scheduled Commercial Banks, NVS, BSNL, CSC, UTIITSL etc. This data is dynamic in nature. List of such centers is available in public domain on UIDAI web site link https://appointments.uidai.gov.in/easearch.aspx

As on date, 94 Aadhaar centers are functional in Chittorgarh district of Rajasthan.

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