The unique identification project was conceived as an initiative that would provide identification for each resident across the country and would be used primarily as the basis for efficient delivery of welfare services. It would also act as a tool for effective monitoring of various programs and schemes of the government.

The concept of a unique identification was first discussed and worked upon in 2006 when administrative approval for the project – “Unique ID for BPL families”was given on March 3rd, 2006 by the Department of Information Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. This project was to be implemented by the NIC over a period of 12 months. After several rounds of discussions by various stakeholders and on the recommendation of the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) for collation of the two schemes - the National Population Register (NPR)/MNIC under the Citizenship Act, 1955 and the Unique Identification Number (UID) of the Department of Information Technology, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) was constituted and notified by the Planning Commission on 28th January, 2009 (vide notification no A- 43011/02/2009- Admn -I) as an attached office under the aegis of Planning Commission. The UIDAI was given the responsibility of laying down the plan and policies to implement the UID scheme, to own and operate the UID database and be responsible for its update and maintenance on an ongoing basis.

NPR

The National Population Register (NPR) is a Register of usual residents of the country. It is being prepared at the local (Village/sub-Town), sub-District, District, State and National level under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR. A usual resident is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more.

For more information on NPR log on to: http://www.censusindia.gov.in/