Identity Gain
National ID project will bring the latest uplift in Indian AIDC industry

Indian AIDC industry is on an upswing since the retail revolution and now the National ID project will give a further boost to the industry. The government of India is working on adopting the MNIC (Multipurpose National Identification Card) nationwide which will create a demand of 700mn smart cards over a period of 5-6 years.

The Indian government has constituted Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to launch and run the scheme with Nandan Nilekani of Infosys as the Chairperson, in the rank of Cabinet Minister.

The project will create at least 100,000 additional jobs in the country in the next three years. The government had earmarked Rs 100 crore in the interim budget to kick-start the UID project. The entire ID card project is estimated to be in the range of around Rs 1.5 lakh crore, in the first phase - which will cover ultra urban, urban, and semi-urban populations - offering a Rs 6,500 crore business opportunity.

According to the plan, the government proposes to issue a unique identification number to all citizens by 2011. The Unique Identification Authority of India shall own and operate the unique identification number database and also look after its updation and maintenance on an ongoing basis. In the beginning, the UID number will be assigned based on the National Population Register or electoral rolls. Photographs and biometric data will be added to make the identification foolproof. The scheme will help in G2C (government to citizen) applications and will also add transparency to identities.