Full potential of Aadhaar not realised under UPA regime: Arun Jaitley

New Delhi: Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Wednesday said although concept of Aadhaar was an “important leap forward” under the UPA regime, its full potential was not realised by the then government.

Speaking at the the Conclave on Financial Inclusion by United Nations in Delhi, Jaitley said the unique biometric identification number was an evolving idea under the previous UPA regime and did have legislative backing. “What the Aadhaar would be used for was not mentioned in the draft law,” he said.

Jaitley said the Aadhaar legislation, passed during the BJP rule, will stand the test of constitutionality of using the unique identification number for giving government benefits.

Referring to the right to privacy judgement, he said “Some of the illustrative restraints of the Article 21 that could be imposed are in the larger interest of the society, or for the purpose of detection of crime or for the distribution of social benefits. The third criteria is the principal purpose of Aadhaar,” he said.

“Once you are able to create the identity network, you are able to make sure the resource of the state as a subsidy will reach those who really need it,” he said, adding untargetted subsidy can lead to huge wastage.