Project National ID, a Planning Commission initiative, proposes to

•·     Initially create a central database of residents above the age of 18 years, and

•·     Generate a unique identification number (UID) for all such residents.

UID process study recommendations have been presented to the Process Committee
(Planning Commission) on 27th April. 'Proof of Concept' (PoC) to establish linkage between partner databases such as RD, PDS and EPIC has been initiated by the DIT as per the directions of the Process Committee. POC being carried out in 3 Gram Panchayats. This UID is intended to be used in the first instance, as the basis for efficient delivery of various social and welfare services to persons below the poverty line (BPL). 

National ID can be used as the basis for identifying and authenticating a person's entitlement to government services and benefits through a single system rather than all government departments individually and independently investing in creating infrastructure, systems and procedures for verifying entitlement of residents under various schemes of the Government. To this end, the project envisages provision of linking of existing databases, as well as providing for future additions, to the fields of content to the database, by the user agencies.

One of the key advantages envisaged as an outcome of the project is that the National ID will be helpful in reducing identity related fraud and allow only targeted people to get the benefits from the government.

The Planning Commission initiative with a focus on reaching the social sector benefits to the beneficiaries more efficiently and effectively is being steered by the DIT, as the line ministry, through NICSI/NIC as the technical solution provider and a consultant for the process definitions for operation and maintenance of the database.

This MMP comes under Ministry of Home Affairs.