Lok Sabha Question No. 691 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-07
Subject: Aadhaar for Government Schemes
Ministry: ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
Asked by: S. Jothimani

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 691

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2024

## AADHAAR FOR GOVERNMENT SCHEMES

## 691.    MS. S. JOTHIMANI:

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

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  made  Aadhaar  mandatory  for  Below  Poverty  Line  (BPL) families to participate in Government schemes and if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
- (b) the biometric information collected by the Government and private entities under various initiatives related to the scheme, State/UT-wise especially for the State of Tamil Nadu;
- (c)  whether citizens consent has been obtained before collecting various information under such schemes and if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the data collected under such schemes is being stored in a secure and confidential manner;
- (e) if so, whether there is a clear and transparent process for citizens to access and correct their data collected under such schemes and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f) whether the Government has established clear guidelines for the use and sharing of data collected under such schemes and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI RAJEEV CHANDRASEKHAR)

(a):   Under the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016 ('Aadhaar Act'), Government may require that the recipients (including from BPL families) of a subsidy, benefit or service under any Government scheme financed from the Consolidated Fund of India/State either undergo authentication or furnish proof of possession  of  Aadhaar  number,  or  apply  for  Aadhaar  enrolment  and  furnish  alternate identification,  to  establish  their  identity  as  a  condition  for  receipt.  Details  of  schemes  in respect of which establishment of identity in such manner has been required are available on the website of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) [uidai.gov.in/images/resource/section7GoInotifications.pdf and uidai.gov.in/images/resource/section7StateGovtnotifications.pdf].

(b):  Collection  of  biometric  information  for  Aadhaar  enrolment  is  done  by  UIDAI  for generating Aadhaar number. In case identity of an Aadhaar number holder is established by a scheme-implementing  Government  or  private  entity  through  authentication  by  providing Aadhaar number and biometric information, such information is encrypted and secured at the time of capture itself and transmitted to UIDAI using secure protocols, in accordance with UIDAI's specifications.

(c): Yes, sir. The Aadhaar Act requires that Aadhaar number be used only with the informed consent of the Aadhaar number holder.

(d):    Yes,  sir.  Aadhaar-related  information  provided  by  the  Aadhaar  number  holder  to scheme-implementing  entity  is  encrypted  and  secured  at  the  time  of  capture  itself  and transmitted  to  UIDAI  using  secure  protocols,  in  accordance  with  UIDAI's  specifications. Further, UIDAI has comprehensive measures in place to protect the personal data of Aadhaar number holders:

- (i) It has implemented multi-layered security infrastructure with defence-in-depth concept to protect its Aadhaar database and continuously reviews/audits the same.
- (ii) Advanced encryption  technologies  are  used  to  protect  the  data  in  transmission  and storage.
- (iii)UIDAI's  Information  Security  Management  System  is  ISO  27001:2013-certified. Further, UIDAI is also certified against the ISO/IEC 27701:2019 (Privacy Information Management System) standard.

(e): To access demographic information, an Aadhaar number holder may-

- (i) use the 'Login' tab on the homepage of the myAadhaar portal (myAadhaar.uidai.gov.in) or the home screen of the mAadhaar app (available on Google Playstore and iOS app store), submit his/her Aadhaar number followed by the one-time password received on the mobile number registered by him/her with UIDAI, and then use the 'Download Aadhaar' tab to review his/her demographic information; or
- (ii) visit any Aadhaar enrolment centre and use the 'Print Aadhaar' service to obtain a print of the Aadhaar letter containing his/her demographic information.

To update the identity information furnished by him/her to UIDAI, he/she may undergo the update process at any Aadhaar enrolment centre. Further, in case of update of address, he/she may also use myAadhaar portal or mAadhaar app.

(f):  Clear  provision  has  been  made  under  law  for  the  use  and  sharing  of  Aadhaar-related information and date in a secure manner in Chapter VI of the Aadhaar Act and the Aadhaar (Sharing of Information) Regulations, 2016, the Aadhaar (Data Security) Regulations, 2016, Chapters  II,  IV  and  V  of  the  Aadhaar  (Enrolment  and  Update)  Regulations,  2016  and Chapters II, III and IV of the Aadhaar (Authentication and Offline Verification) Regulations, 2021 made by UIDAI.

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