Syllabus: Polity/Governance
Source: TH
Context: The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has urged a comprehensive review of UIDAI’s functioning after biometric verification failures led to wrongful exclusion from welfare schemes and raised concerns over data security breaches.
About PAC has urged a comprehensive review of UIDAI’s functioning:
- What it is PAC?
-
- A parliamentary committee that audits the accounts of the Union Government based on CAG reports.
- Members: Comprises 22 MPs (15 from Lok Sabha, 7 from Rajya Sabha); chaired by an opposition leader.
- Term: Reconstituted annually.
- Functions:
- Examines public expenditure to ensure it is used efficiently and legally.
- Reviews autonomous bodies and public undertakings funded by the government.
- Recently reviewed UIDAI based on the CAG’s 2021 report.
Key Issues Highlighted by PAC
- Biometric Verification Failures:
- High failure rates exclude genuine beneficiaries from PDS, MGNREGA, etc.
- Causes: Worn fingerprints (manual labourers), iris mismatch (elderly).
- Data Breaches:
- PAC flagged reports of Aadhaar data surfacing on the dark web.
- UIDAI claimed its central repository is secure and leaks mostly occur at enrolment centres.
- Duplicate and Inactive Aadhaar IDs: Aadhaar numbers exceed India’s population; slow deactivation after death raises risk of misuse.
- Grievance Redressal Gaps: Citizens face difficulty correcting errors or resolving failed authentication issues.
- Use of Aadhaar by Ineligible Entities: Some MPs warned of Aadhaar being accessed by non-citizens, leading to welfare misuse.
Implications of Aadhaar Verification Failures & Data Issues
- Social Exclusion: Biometric mismatches deny genuine beneficiaries access to welfare schemes like PDS and MGNREGA.
- Security Threats: Data leaks and duplicated Aadhaar numbers expose citizens to identity theft and fraud.
- Erosion of Trust in Institutions: Frequent authentication failures and reports of data breaches reduce public faith in UIDAI.
- Welfare Leakages and Misuse: Fake or duplicated Aadhaar numbers enable ineligible persons to access subsidies.
- Governance Inefficiency: Grievance redressal failures and slow deactivation of deceased persons’ Aadhaar delay service delivery.
Recommended Measures by PAC:
- Scientific Audit of Repository: A full-fledged forensic and technical review of UIDAI’s central database is needed.
- Simplify Aadhaar Enrolment: Reduce procedural barriers and allow flexible documentation for genuine residents.
- Strengthen Data Security: Enforce stricter compliance protocols at Aadhaar enrolment and update centres.
- Accelerate Deactivation Post-Death: Integrate UIDAI with state civil registries to auto-deactivate Aadhaar of deceased.
- Adopt Inclusive Verification Alternatives: Enable facial recognition, OTP-based authentication, or assisted verification models.
- Ensure Beneficiary Citizenship: Review Aadhaar issuance to suspected non-citizens misusing schemes meant for Indians.
Conclusion:
The PAC has rightly flagged Aadhaar-related operational and ethical concerns, highlighting the need for technological upgrades and policy reforms. Ensuring secure, inclusive, and error-free Aadhaar authentication is vital to uphold welfare delivery, privacy, and national trust in digital governance.
