More uses of Aadhaar

Aadhaar must for foodgrains
The Centre on Thursday made Aadhaar mandatory for availing subsidised foodgrains from the ration shops  under the National Food Security Law with a view to bettering the targeted Rs 1.4 lakh crore subsidy.

“The ministry of consumer affairs, food and public distribution has issued a notification under Aadhaar Act which requires individual beneficiaries having ration cards under the National Food Security Law (NFSA) to furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar number or undergo Aadhaar authentication to receive subsidies under NFSA (subsidised foodgrains or cash transfer of food subsidy),” said the notification.

Under the NFSA, which has been completely rolled out across the country, the government provides 5 kg of foodgrains per person every month at Rs 1-3/kg to over 80 crore people.

Aadhaar check for mobile nos
The Centre on Monday informed the Supreme Court that an effective identification mechanism will be put in place within a year to ensure 100 per cent verification of mobile phone subscribers, including all prepaid ones through Aadhar card.

Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi made this submission before a Bench of Chief justice J.S. Khehar and Justice N.V. Ramana, hearing a PIL seeking a fool-proof mechanism of subscribers with regard to their identity, their addresses and ensuring that no fake identities are accepted while issuing SIM cards.

So far as the existing subscribers are concerned, 90 per cent are prepaid users and for them a system will be devised to put in place a mechanism similar to one already adopted.