Nilekani selects Karnataka for UID launch

UIAI’s first chairman and former co-chairman of Infosys Nandan Nilekani held discussions with Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao at Vidhana Soudha on Saturday. He also made a presentation on the concept of the UIA.

The State’s e-governance department has been roped in for implementing the project. Department’s Principal Secretary M N Vidyashankar has been appointed the nodal officer.

“Karnataka will be the first state in the country wherein the multi-purpose ID numbers will be rolled out. The entire state will be covered under the pilot project,” he said. The authority provides a unique number to every resident Indian.

“Nilekani has made it clear that the UIAI will not be issuing any card.  States will have to decide the use of the data bank,” he added.  

The modalities for arriving at the unique ID number will be finalised after receiving detailed guidelines from the authority, Sudhakar Rao said. The project may commence within six months.