PAC has urged a comprehensive review of UIDAI’s functioning

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.

• 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).

• 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.

• 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.