Centre notifies AADHAR Act giving UIDAI authority a legal basis

The Centre yesterday notified the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act 2016, giving a legal shape to Unique Identification Authority of India, UIDAI. The Government also separately notified the UIDAI (Terms and Conditions of Service of Chairperson and Members) Rules, 2016, for appointment of its chairperson and members.

According to the notification, the next chairperson of UIDAI will be selected on the recommendation of a committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary. Secretaries of Department of Personnel and Training, Finance and Department of Electronics and Information Technology and two experts to be nominated by Communications and IT minister will recommend names for the chairperson and members for selection. The notification said, the Chairperson will draw a salary of the level of a Secretary. The post has been lying vacant since two years.

The notification came at a time when the Supreme Court is yet to take a final call on whether Aadhaar number can be made mandatory for delivery of government benefits and subsidies. The apex court in its order in October last year had said that Aadhaar would be voluntary.

Presently over 102 crore persons in the country have Aadhaar card and unique identity numbers. Aadhaar had been linked to more than 27 crore bank accounts, 12 crore LPG consumers, 13 crore ration cards holders and 7 crore MGNREGA workers.