UIDAI caught in a power wrangle

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) may have to extend its deadline for issuing biometric identification numbers for all residents in the country further with the finance ministry denying required funds for the UID-Aadhar project that is already running behind schedule. 

The finance ministry is reported to have declined a hike in the outlay for UIDAI to Rs18,000 crore, from the current Rs3,023 crore, in the wake of a tussle between the authority and the Planning Commission.

UIDAI, led by Nandan Nilekani, former CEO of IT major Infosys, is reported to have demanded an increase in Plan outlay for the `Aadhar' project to Rs18,000 crore, in order to cover the entire population of the country, against the previously-set target of 200 million people.

The current Plan outlay for the `Aadhar' project is about Rs3,023 crore.

It seems the Plan panel now wants to get back control of oversight over UIDAI, which it had surrendered in November 2009 when it delegated financial powers to the UIDAI.

The Planning Commission is reported to have sought the appointment of independent financial advisors to monitor finances of UIDAI and has suggested an administrative structure that has inbuilt powers to control expenditure.