UPSC Mains Answer: Two parallel run schemes of the Government, viz. the Adhaar Card and NPR, one as voluntary and the other as. compulsory, have led to debates at national levels and also litigations. On metits, discuss whether or not both schemes need run concurrently. Analyse the potential of the

Difficulty Level: Hard

Sub-category: Governance, Constitution, and Social Justice (GS-II: Welfare schemes, transparency, and accountabili

Introduction

The Aadhaar card, a voluntary biometric identification system under the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), and the National Population Register (NPR), a compulsory citizen registry under the Citizenship Act, 1955, have sparked national debates due to their overlapping objectives and differing mandates. While both aim to streamline governance and enhance service delivery, their concurrent operation raises concerns about redundancy, privacy, and fiscal efficiency.

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historical_context: Aadhaar was launched in 2009 to provide a unique identity to residents, enabling targeted welfare delivery and reducing leakages. NPR, initiated in 2010, seeks to create a comprehensive identity database for citizens, primarily for security and demographic purposes. The dual frameworks have led to litigation, notably in the Supreme Court, which has emphasized the voluntary nature of Aadhaar while upholding NPR’s statutory mandate.

Merits of concurrency

Running both schemes concurrently offers limited synergies. Aadhaar’s biometric infrastructure could complement NPR’s demographic data, potentially reducing duplication costs. However, the voluntary-compulsory dichotomy creates confusion, dilutes policy clarity, and strains public resources. For instance, the 2018 Economic Survey highlighted Aadhaar’s success in Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT), while NPR’s utility remains confined to security and census needs.

Developmental potential

Aadhaar has demonstrably improved welfare efficiency, with over ₹2.7 lakh crore saved in DBT leakages (World Bank, 2016). Its integration with Jan Dhan Yojana and mobile connectivity (JAM trinity) has fostered financial inclusion. NPR, though useful for internal security, lacks a direct developmental linkage. Merging the two could optimize costs—estimated at ₹15,000 crore for NPR alone (CAG, 2014)—and enhance equitable growth by eliminating exclusion errors in welfare schemes.

Challenges

Concurrency risks privacy infringements, as seen in the 2017 Aadhaar data leaks. The Supreme Court’s 2018 verdict restricted Aadhaar’s mandatory use, underscoring the need for a unified, rights-respecting framework. NPR’s compulsory nature also raises concerns about surveillance and exclusion of marginalized groups, such as migrants and the homeless.

Conclusion

While both schemes serve distinct purposes, their concurrent operation is redundant and fiscally imprudent. A unified, voluntary biometric system under UIDAI, with NPR’s demographic data integrated into it, would enhance efficiency, reduce costs, and align with the goal of equitable growth. Policy coherence, rather than parallelism, should guide India’s digital identity framework.