UIDAI shifted to IT ministry from NITI Aayog
Move to shift UIDAI from NITI Aayog taken keeping in mind govt's ambitious 'Digital India' plan as Aadhaar numbers are being linked with several services
New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which issues Aadhaar cards, has been shifted to the administrative control of the ministry of communication and information technology from NITI Aayog.
The decision to shift UIDAI from NITI Aayog, which has replaced the Planning Commission, has been taken, keeping in mind the government’s ambitious “Digital India" programme as the Aadhaar numbers are being linked with several services, people aware of the development said.
The issuance of Aadhaar cards, started by the then United Progressive Alliance government, has come under the scrutiny of the Supreme Court, which recently held that the card would not be mandatory for availing benefits of government’s welfare schemes.
The cabinet secretariat has amended Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961, and put it under the department of electronics and information technology (DeITy), ministry of communication nd information technology, a notification issued by the government said.
Earlier, UIDAI was the part of Planning Commission.
NITI Aayog is headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi as its chairperson.
Aadhaar is a 12-digit individual identification number issued by UIDAI.
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