5809 - Aadhaar: Is the Modi govt moving against the Supreme Court order? by Gopal Krishna - MONEY LIFE

Aadhaar: Is the Modi govt moving against the Supreme Court order?

Gopal Krishna | 24/09/2014 04:34 PM | 

The Supreme Court says Aadhaar is not mandatory for public services. Yet, like the Congress government, Modi too is forcing the biometric ID

The Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY) is riding on 12-digit biometric Aadhaar number project, which itself is controversial, legally contested, disapproved by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance and found questionable by the judiciary.

There is a categorical order of the Supreme Court reiterated at least two occasions stating that Aadhaar cannot be made mandatory.

Read Full Article in Money Life

5808 - PM wants prisoners to have Aadhar cards

PM wants prisoners to have Aadhar cards

TNN | Sep 24, 2014, 02.51AM IST

NEW DELHI: All prisoners languishing in various jails across the country would be given Aadhar cards. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed Union home ministry and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to ensure enrollment of all inmates across the country. 

A government source said that the plan to issue Aadhar numbers would help to ensure that prisoners and their families are not denied their rights and entitlements under welfare schemes. 

He added, "This would also create a secure database for prisoners that would help in more effective tracking." 

An official said that the specific direction from PM to Union home ministry would help to bring state governments on board without whose support UIDAI could not set up enrollment camps in prisons across the country. 

A highly-placed source told TOI that Prime Minister in a meeting with key government officials expressed his eagerness for completion of enrollment of all 1.2 billion residents of the country as soon as possible. 

"He wanted faster completion of the entire enrollment process," she said. 

PM also directed the external affairs ministry to use Aadhar number for issuing of passports so that biometric data collected by UIDAI could be utilised. Modi was not happy with current practice of passports offices taking applicants biometric details which are of no utility as they cannot be de-duplicated. 

"He was convinced that use of Aadhar would prevent duplication of work," said an official, adding that Aadhaar already has biometric details of more than half of the population so there is no point in passport office repeating it. 

PM also desired to link financial inclusion scheme, Jan Dhan Yojana, with Aadhaar to check leakages and corruption. 

The Aadhar enabled bank accounts would prevent the possibility of opening fake accounts to claim the benefits. 

The scheme is aimed at opening bank accounts for the poor, provides for accident insurance cover of one lakh rupees, medical insurance of Rs 30,000 with a free debit card for those who open accounts before January 26, 2015. 

After Modi's nudge, the Union Cabinet had cleared Rs 1200 crore fund for UIDAI to fast-track roll out of Aadhaar in four states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Uttarakhand, which were lagging behind in enrollment. 

Modi has given the target of enrolling one billion by the end of next year. The UIDAI has to speed up the process in UP and has enrolled one-fourth of the population (more than five crore against a population of 19.95 crore). 

The authority has been enrolling at present more than 2.5 lakh residents per day through over 5000 centres in 69 districts. 

With the 68 crore resident database, the Aadhaar identity platform has been serving users ranging from MNREGA workers, PDS, remittance and scholarship beneficiaries, etc. - all using their Aadhaar number to avail benefits through authentication.

5807 - UIDAI covers one-fourth of Uttar Pradesh, generates five crore Aadhaar numbers - ECONOMIC TIMES

UIDAI covers one-fourth of Uttar Pradesh, generates five crore Aadhaar numbers

PTI Sep 23, 2014, 07.53PM IST

NEW DELHI: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) today said it has enrolled one- fourth of the Uttar Pradesh population of 19.95 crore and generated more than five crore Aadhaar numbers.

"UIDAI crossed the five crore mark in Uttar Pradesh this week in its second phase, which was started for residents of the state through various non-state registrars (like Banks, Department of Post) and their enrollment agencies in March 2014," a press release said.

According to statement the UIDAI has been enrolling at present more than two-and-a-half lakh residents per day through over 5,000 enrollment kits deployed by 55 agencies in 69 districts of Uttar Pradesh.

The authority has said that it is taking adequate steps to deploy more enrollment kits to meet the targets of maximum enrollments at the earliest.

Widespread awareness has been generated to motivate the residents to approach their nearest enrollment centre to take up Aadhaar enrollment which is available free of cost.

With the 68 crore strong resident database, the Aadhaar identity platform has been serving users ranging from MNREGA workers, PDS, remittance and scholarship beneficiaries, etc.

All these beneficiaries are using their Aadhaar number to avail benefits through authentication. Aadhaar authentication is a novel and state-of-the-art method of enabling Aadhaar holders establish their identity in a full digital manner.

The previous UPA government had entrusted UIDAI, which issues unique identification numbers to residents, to start enrolments in four more states -- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand -- in February 2014.

The new NDA government has also recently approved Phase V of the Aadhaar project which include enrollment by UIDAI in these four states.

There are around 40 crore people in these four states, which were earlier covered under the National Population Register (NPR) project of the Home Ministry.

In the backdrop of slow progress by NPR in these states, the government is pushing for the Aadhaar enrolments in these four states and other parts of the country.

UIDAI was established in 2009 to generate and assign unique identity numbers for residents of India.

5806 - Talent Search Exam: UID Puts Students in a Fix - NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

Talent Search Exam: UID Puts Students in a Fix

By Revathi Rajeevan

Published: 22nd September 2014 06:13 AM

Last Updated: 22nd September 2014 06:13 AM

KOCHI: e Kerala State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) seems to have turned a deaf ear to the Supreme Court directive to withdraw all government orders making Aadhaar mandatory for people for availing any government services.

Making Unique Identification Number (Aadhaar number) mandatory for applying to the first level of National Talent Search Exam (NTSE), the SCERT has made thousands of students ineligible for applying, only because they do not have a UID.

National Talent Search Examination (NTSE), organised by the National Council of Educational Research and Training, is a national-level scholarship programme held every year to identify and recognise students with high intellect and academic talent. Close to 1,50,000 students in the country appear for this exam and 1,000 scholarships are awarded.

Before qualifying for NCERT, the first level is the state level talent search exam (STSE) which is conducted by the SCERT.

“We are not able to submit the application form as the field where the Aadhaar number needs to be filled is mandatory. A number of students who do not have an Aadhaar number will lose their chance to appear for the exam because of this,” said the parent of a student who was willing to apply for this year’s NTSE.

Responding to the issue, SCERT liason officer Mala Vanajapathi told ‘Express,’ “Government and aided school students have a UID/EID number, but in the case of other students, there is no such thing to identify their unique ID. Because of this, we had thousands of duplicate applications last year. There were cases where the same student submitted about forty different applications.”

She said the decision was taken after receiving the consent from the Director of Public Instruction.

“The students without the UID can register for one immediately and fill in the temporary number they get,” she said. However, with the last date of submission of application being September 25, it is bound to affect several students without a UID.

5805 - UID officers of states, UTs to meet September 23, 30 - Asian Age

UID officers of states, UTs to meet September 23, 30

Sep 20, 2014 - Mukesh Ranjan |

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling the Central and state agencies to increase Aadhaar-based Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) penetration from current 35 to 60 per cent in 300 Aadhaar-enabled district to 80 per cent within this financial year, the Planning Commission has convened a meeting of chief secretaries and UID nodal officers of the states and UTs on September 23 and 30 to work out plans to go head in implementing the scheme.

Sources said, during the last review meeting, which was chaired by the Prime Minister, it was identified that once Aadhaar penetration reaches to the level of 80 per cent in identified 300 districts, at least five subsidies and dole outs like pension, scholarship, LPG, PDS and NREGA could be brought under DBT scheme.

“Incidentally, two out of five, PDS and NREGA are the new schemes to be brought under DBT,” they added.

It was UPA government, which started the Aadhaar-linked DBT schemes and had brought under its ambit three subsidies and dole outs, which included LPG, Pension and scholarship. It, however, had excluded LPG subsidy through DBT schemes in the last leg of its tenure.

The government gives three kinds of scholarship to students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs) and minorities.

5804 - Khalistani terrorist held two Aadhar cards - TNN

Khalistani terrorist held two Aadhar cards

TIMES NOW has accessed exclusive details which say arrested Khalistani terrorist Rattandeep Singh possesses two Aadhar Cards. The UID project which is backed by the Government aims to equip every Indian with a Unique Identiy Number and surprisingly a dreaded terrorist managed to get two such cards made in the name of Jagtar Singh of Ambala Cantt and Amar Chauhan from Chandigarh...Along with these documents, the Punjab police has also recovered a Pakistan Passport from his possession. But the bigger concern is -- Is this ambitious project being derailed due to such massive security goof ups?

5803 - The Future of Aadhaar: finding common ground between UID and NPR – CIS India - Medianama

The Future of Aadhaar: finding common ground between UID and NPR – CIS India

By Centre for Internet and Society on Sep 19th, 2014

by an anonymous author

The UID (Unique Identification) and NPR (National Population Register) are both government identity schemes that aggregate personal data, including biometric data for the provision of an identification factor, and aim to link them with the delivery of public utility services. The differences between the two exist in terms of collection of data, the type of identification factor issued, authorities involved and the outcome.

Despite the differences, there has been talk of combining the two schemes because of the overlap.

[1] In the same breath, it has been argued that the two schemes are incompatible. 

[2] One of the UIDAI’s (Unique Identification Authority of India) functions is to harmonize the two schemes. 

[3] As it stands, the schemes are distinct. Enrolment for a UID does not lead to automatic enrolment in the NPR. The NPR website expressly states that even if a data subject has undergone census or has been granted a UID Number, it is necessary to visit a data collection centre to provide biometric data for the NPR.

[4] UID and NPR: The Differences

- The basis of identity/ Unit of survey (Difficulty Inserting Appropriate Term): The most striking difference between the UID and NPR Schemes is their notion of identity. The UID is individual based, whereas the NPR scheme focuses on the household or the family as a composite unit. Thus, the UID seeks to enroll individuals while the NPR seeks to gather data of the members of a household or family as a composite unit during the census and later register each person for an NPR Card, on the basis of the census data. To this extent, analysis of the data gathered from the two schemes will be different and will require differing analytical tools. The definition of the data subject and the population is different. In one scheme, the unit is an individual; in the other it is the household/family. Though the family is the composite unit in the NPR, the data is finally extracted it is unpaired to provide individuals NPR cards, but the family based association is not lost and it is argued that this household association of NPR should be used to calculate and provide subsidies. Some states have put on hold transfer of cooking gas subsidy, which is calculated for each household, through Aadhar-linked bank accounts.

[5]If both schemes were merged, the basis for determining entitlement to subsidies would be non-uniform.

- Differences in Information Collection: The UID and NPR have different procedures for collection of information. In the UID scheme, all data is collected in data collection centres whereas NPR data is collected door to door in part and in collection centres for the other part. UID data is collected by the UIDAI themselves or by private parties, under contract. These contractors are private parties: often, online marketing service providers.

[6] The data subjects were initially allowed registration through an introducer and without any documentation. This was replaced with the verification system where documents were to be produced for registration for UID.

The NPR involves a dual collection process- the first stage is the door-to-door collection of data as part of the Census. This information is collected through questionnaire. No supporting documents/ proof is produced to verify this data. The verification happens at a later stage, through public display of the information. This data is digitized. The data subjects are then to give their biometric data at the data collection centres, on the production of the census slip. The biometric data collectors are parties who are empanelled by the UIDAI and are eligible to collect data under the UID Scheme. A subject’ s data is aggregated and then de-duplicated by the UIDAI. 

[7] This shows two points of merger. It can be suggested that when data is collected for the UID number, then the subject should not have to give their biometrics for the NPR Scheme again. The sharing of biometrics across the schemes will reduce cost and redundancy. While sharing of UID data with NPR is feasible, the reverse is not true, since UID is optional and NPR is not. If NPR data is to be shared with UID, then the subject has the right to refuse. However, the consent for using NPR data for the UID is a default YES in the UID form. 

[8] Prohibiting the information sharing is no option.

- Differences in Stated Purposes: The NPR is linked to citizenship status. The NPR exercise is being conducted to create a national citizen register and to assist in identifying and preventing illegal immigration. The NPR card, a desired outcome, is aimed to be a conduit for transactions relating to subsidies and public utilities.

[9] So is the UID Number, which was created to provide the residents of India an identity. The linkage and provision of subsidies through the NPR and UID cards have not taken off on a large scale and there is a debate as to which will be more appropriate for direct benefit transfer, with some leaders proclaiming that the NPR scheme is more suited to direct benefit transfer.

[10] Since the UID Number is linked to direct benefit transfer, but not to citizenship, benefits such as those under the MNREGA scheme, may be availed by non-citizens as well, though only citizens are eligible for the scheme.

[11] C. Chandramouli, the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India, states that the conflict between the two schemes is only perceived, and results from a poor understanding of the differences in objective. The NPR, he states is created to provide national security through the creation of a citizen register, starting with a register of residents after authentication and verification of the residence of the subjects. On the other hand, the UID exercise is to provide a number that will be used to correctly identify a person.

[12] - Difference in Legal Sanctity: The UIDAI was set up through an executive notification, which dictates a few of its responsibility, including: assigning a UID number, collating the UID and NPR schemes, laying down standards for interlinking with partner databases and so on. However, the UIDAI has not expressed responsibility to collect, or authorize collection of data under this scheme. The power to authorize the collection of biometrics is vested with the National Identification Authority of India (NIAI), which will be set up under the National Identification Authority of India Bill, (NIAI Bill, which is at times referred to as the UID Bill).

The NPR Scheme has been created pursuant to the 2004 Amendment of the Citizenship Act. Under S. 14A of the Citizenship Act, the central government has the power to compulsorily register citizens for an Identity Card. This gives the NPR exercise sanctity. However, no authority to collect biometric information has been given either under this Act or Rules framed under it.

Future of Aadhaar

The existence of both the UID and NPR Schemes leads to redundancy. Therefore, many have advocated for their merger. This seems impractical, as the standards in collection and management of data are not the same.

For some time, it was thought that the Aadhaar Scheme would be scrapped. This belief was based on the present government’s opposition to the scheme during and before the election. This was further strengthened by the fact that they did not expressly mention the continuance of the scheme in their manifesto. The Cabinet Committee on UIDAI was disbanded and the enrolment for the UID Number was stopped, only to be resumed a short while later.

[13]  However, recent events show that the Aadhaar scheme will continue. First, the new government has stated that the UID scheme will continue. In support of the UID Scheme, the government has made budgetary allocation for the scheme to enable, inter-alia, it being sped-up. The Government even intends to enact a law to give the scheme sanctity. 

[14] Second, the Government is assigning the UID Number new uses. To track attendance of government employees, the Government shall use a biometric attendance system, which is linked to the employees UID Number. 

[15] The attendance will be uploaded onto a website, to boost transparency.

Third, direct benefit transfers under the UID will become more vigorous. The UID is already necessary for registration under the NPR, which is compulsory.

Providing one’s UID Number for utilities such as cooking gas is also compulsory in several areas, despite the Courts diktat that it should not be so.

[16]  Conclusion

The government is in favour of continuing both the schemes. Therefore, it is unlikely that either scheme will be scrapped or that the two schemes will be combined. The registration for UID is becoming compulsory by implication as it is required for direct benefit transfers and for utilities. Data collected under NPR is being shared with the UIDAI by default, when one registers for a UID number. However, the reverse is unlikely, as the UID collects secondary data, whereas NPR requires primary data, which it collects through physical survey and authentication. Perhaps the sharing of data could be incorporated when one goes to the data collection centre to submit biometrics for the NPR. The subject could fill in the UID form and submit verification documents at this stage, completing both exercises in one go. This will drastically reduce the combined costs of the two exercises.

*

References

[1] Rajesh Aggarwal, Merging UID and NPR???, Igovernment, accessed 5 September, 2014http://www.igovernment.in/igov/opinion/41631/merging-npr-uid; Bharti Jain, Rajnath Hints at Merger of NPR and Aadhar, Times of India, accessed 5 September, 2014 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Rajnath-hints-at-merger-of-NPR-and-Aadhaar/articleshow/35740480.cms
[2] Raju Rajagopal, The Aadhar-NPR Conundrum, Mint, accessed 5 September, 2014http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/tvpoCYeHxrs2Z7EkAAu7bP/The-AadhaarNPR-conundrum.html .
[3] Cl, 4 of the Notification on the creation o fthe UIDAI, No. A-43011/02/2009-Admin.1 of the Planning Commission of India, dated 28 January, 2009
[4] FAQ for NPR, accessed: 3 September, 2014. http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-Common/FAQs.html
[5] A Jolt for Aadhar: UPA Shouldn’t Have to Put on Hold its Only Good Idea,Business Standard, accessed 5 September, 2014 http://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/a-jolt-for-aadhaar-114020301243_1.html
[6] Prakash Chandra Sao, The Unique ID Project in India: An Exploratory Study, accessed: 21 August, 2014http://subversions.tiss.edu/the-unique-id-project-in-india-an-exploratory-study/
[7] NPR Acticities, accessed 5 September, 2014, http://ditnpr.nic.in/NPR_Activities.aspx
[8] R. Dinakaran, NPR and Aadhar- A Confused Process, The Hindu BusinessLine, accessed: 4 September, 2014http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/blogs/blog-rdinakaran/npr-and-aadhaar-a-confused-process/article4940976.ece
[9] More than sixty-five thousand NPR cards have been issued and biometric data of more than twenty-five lakh people has been captured, as on 28 August, 2014 http://censusindia.gov.in
[10] NPR, not Aadhaar, best tool for cash transfer: BJP’s Sinha, accessed: 3 September,http://www.moneycontrol.com/master_your_money/stocks_news_consumption.php?autono=1035033
[11] Bharati Jain, NDA’s national ID cards may kill UPA’s Aadhaar, accessed 3 September, 2014http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/NDAs-national-ID-cards-may-kill-UPAs-Aadhaar/articleshow/36791858.cms
[12] Id.
[13] Aadhar Enrolment Drive Begins Again, accessed 3 Spetember, 2014http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/gurgaon/Aadhaar-enrolment-drive-begins-again/articleshow/38280932.cms
[14] Mahendra Singh, Modi govt to give legal backing to Aadhaar, Times of India,http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Modi-govt-to-give-legal-backing-to-Aadhaar/articleshow/38336812.cms
[15] Narendra Modi Government to Launch Website to Track Attendance of Central Government Employees, DNA, accessed: 4 September, 2014 http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-narendra-modi-government-to-launch-website-to-track-attendance-of-central-government-employees-2014684
[16] No gas supply without Aadhaar card, Deccan Chronicle, accessed: 4 September, 2014,http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140829/nation-current-affairs/article/no-gas-supply-without-aadhaar-card

This post was published on Centre for Internet & Society, India website

The Centre for Internet and Society is a non-profit research organization that works on policy issues relating to freedom of expression, privacy, accessibility for persons with disabilities, access to knowledge and IPR reform, and openness (including open government, FOSS, open standards, etc.), and engages in academic research on digital natives and digital humanities.

5802 - No Interim HC Order on AP’s Pension-Aadhaar Link - New Indian Expres

No Interim HC Order on AP’s Pension-Aadhaar Link

By Express News Service

Published: 20th September 2014 06:16 AM

Last Updated: 20th September 2014 06:16 AM

HYDERABAD: The High Court on Friday refused to give any interim direction on a petition challenging GO Ms No.135 dated September 17, 2014 issued by the Andhra Pradesh government in respect of social security pension schemes.   

Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao was dealing with a lunch motion petition filed by Y Chandrasekhar Reddy, sarpanch of Anupalli  in Chittoor district, and eight others against the GO. Petitioners’ counsel P Sudhakar Reddy contended that linking welfare schemes to  Aadhaar card was arbitrary and violative of Supreme Court directions.

Out of 43.10 lakh beneficiaries, only 40.44 lakh have been issued Aadhaar card in Andhra Pradesh.

He said the government decided to launch a verification campaign in every gram panchayat/municipal ward from September 19 to 21 through gram panchayat, municipal, corporation committees and it would be impossible for the beneficiaries, especially migrant labourers, to make themselves available in their respective villages before the committees at such a short notice to prove their eligibility for obtaining pensions, etc. The counsel apprehended that there was every possibility of inducting the people closer to the party in power, in the name of social activists, in the said committees to conduct verification process.

He urged the court to declare the impugned GO as illegal, arbitrary and unconstitutional.     

AP advocate-general P Venugopal said that the GO was intended to check irregularities, if any, in distribution of social security pension schemes etc. to the needy.

Government has decided to provide pensions to all eligible persons duly eliminating the ineligible cases, and decided to invoke linkage of Aadhaar authenticated disbursement from October 2.

5801 - Direct benefit transfer plan set for expansion - Hindustan Times

Direct benefit transfer plan set for expansion

Chetan Chauhan, Hindustan Times  New Delhi, September 20, 2014

First Published: 00:30 IST(20/9/2014) | Last Updated: 00:34 IST(20/9/2014)

To check rising public expenditure, the government’s two biggest money-spender schemes — subsidised ration for poor and job guarantee in rural areas — will soon be on the Aadhaar-enabled Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) platform.

The disbursal of subsidy for cooking gas cylinders will come back on the DBT platform after the previous UPA government decided to put it on the hold just before general elections.

The UPA, which started transfer of public money directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries through DBT, had deliberately kept the Public Distribution System (PDS) and Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGA) out of it fearing it would invite adverse reaction.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a meeting with Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) officials about a fortnight ago gave a go-ahead to include the two schemes that account for more than `1,50,000 crore of the central expenditure, into the DBT platform.

A planning commission study had estimated that one-fourth of the food grains meant for the poor never reach the beneficiaries and there have been instances of large number of fake job cards to get benefit under MGNREGA. The move would help the government to plug these leakages.  

Modi had also instructed that the disbursement of the cooking gas subsidy should be resumed on the DBT platform. The existing schemes of the DBT platform — pensions, scholarships and incentives to save the girl child — would also be extended to these 300 districts, officials said.

The PM has instructed that the UIDAI should ensure complete coverage in these 300 districts and meet the target of seeding of Aadhaar numbers in the bank accounts of at least 80% beneficiaries. “The PM wants the UIDAI to meet the target before the next review meeting to be held sometime in January 2015,” a senior government functionary said.

For that the Planning Commission has called a meeting of chief secretaries of all union territories and states on September 27 and 30 respectively.

5800 - Aadhaar set to get govt push for 5 key schemes - Business Standard

Aadhaar set to get govt push for 5 key schemes

80% of beneficiaries in 300 districts to be linked with direct benefits transfer

Sanjeeb Mukherjee  |  New Delhi  September 21, 2014 Last Updated at 00:05 IST

After reposing faith in the Aadhaar project at its Cabinet meeting last week, the Narendra Modi government wants direct benefits transfer (DBT) for 80 per cent of beneficiaries in five key schemes “as soon as possible”.

The schemes to be covered include that for cooking gas subsidy, where DBT was stalled by the previous government. The other schemes are on transfer of pensions, scholarships, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and the Public Distribution System (PDS).

According to the Planning Commission’s assessment, Aadhaar’s penetration among beneficiaries of these five schemes varies from 25 per cent to 60 per cent at present.

“In some states the reach is very little. We will now scale up the penetration to bring an Aadhaar-enabled mechanism for transfer of funds to 80 per cent of the beneficiaries of five programmes,” a senior official said.

To begin with, the plan to take Aadhaar to 80 per cent beneficiaries would be for 300 districts (of India’s 670 districts); it would be expanded after the first stage got over, the official said.

The Commission, the nodal agency for Aadhaar, will meet representatives from on Tuesday and those from Union Territories on September 30. “The meeting is for reviewing the state-wise progress of Aadhaar, evaluating the bottlenecks and finding solutions,” the official added.

The Prime Minister’s Office, it is learnt, is directly monitoring the progress of Aadhaar coverage for these five schemes. It had earlier sought from the Planning Commission a report on the feasibility of implementing DBT for these schemes.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had chaired a review meeting for both Aadhaar and the home ministry’s National Population Register (NPR) project. He had emphasised the need for using biometric technology for checking leakages in welfare schemes. Officials said it was decided that bank accounts would be linked to both Aadhaar and NPR for cash transfers — the finance ministry was told to work out a mechanism for linking NPR to bank accounts.

Under the previous government’s term, efforts were made to transfer cash directly to the bank accounts of beneficiaries for PDS and cooking gas, among other things. However, the plan had to be stalled due to Aadhaar’s sparse linkage with bank accounts. Also, the Supreme Court had ruled that the Aadhaar numbers could not be made compulsory for people to avail of benefits of government schemes and subsidies. Before DBT for cooking gas was put in abeyance, around Rs 5,000 crore had been transacted through the channel.

However, after the launch of the ambitious Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, the government’s plans of Aadhaar-linked programmes have again got a boost. The finance ministry had recently said 40 million bank accounts had so far been opened under the Jan Dhan scheme and banks had mobilised Rs 3,700 crore. The target for this scheme is to provide basic bank accounts to at least 75 million households by January 25.

The Cabinet had last week re-approved the Unique Identification Authority of India’s (UIDAI’s) mandate by extending its coverage to four more states, to cover one billion people. Aadhaar had undergone a period of uncertainty after the Bharatiya Janata Party-led government came to power in May this year. This was because BJP leaders had opposed the project during their campaign for the Lok Sabha polls.

To date, about 674 million Aadhaar numbers have been generated. UIDAI’s total expenditure from inception to the end of August was estimated to be Rs 4,906 crore.

According to some estimates, Aadhaar-enabled transfer of benefits could bring down the government’s fuel subsidy bill by 20 per cent. The Centres’ total expenditure under this head was pegged at Rs 63,427 crore for 2014-15, against the revised estimate of Rs 85,480 crore for the previous year.

WIDER REACH

• 80%: Proportion of beneficiaries of five key schemes that PMO wants to cover with the Aadhaar-enabled direct benefits transfers
• 300: Number of districts to be covered in the first phase of the plan
• Key schemes: Those to be covered for DBT are subsidies in cooking gas, public distribution system, the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, scholarships and pensions
• 25-60%: Aadhaar’s penetration among the beneficiaries of these five schemes at present
• Taking stock: Planning Commission has called a meeting of states and Union territories this month to review the progress

5799 - Aadhaar link to passports - Indian Express

Aadhaar link to passports

Written by Ruhi Tewari | New Delhi | Posted: September 20, 2014 12:38 am

The ambitious Aadhaar project received a boost on Friday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi telling ministries that passports be linked to Aadhaar data in order to prevent duplication of work and ensure maximum utilisation of the collected information.

According to the note from a meeting on Aadhaar, chaired by Modi on September 6, the PMO has said passports in the country should be linked to the Aadhaar number so as to utilise the biometric data collected under it. The Passport Authority of India falls within the Ministry of External Affairs.

Sources said the idea is to avoid “duplication of work”, given both Aadhaar and the Passport Authority of India currently collect biometric data. The practice of mandatory collection of biometrics before the issuance of a passport was started a few years ago. “Since Aadhaar already has biometric data of around 67 crore people, it does not make sense for the Passport Authority to do the same work again when someone applies for a passport.” said an official.

This will also ensure a better verification process since the biometrics through Aadhaar would help trace details about the person.

Currently, the biometrics collected during the issuance of a passport are not utilised further.

The cabinet recently set an Aadhaar enrolment target of 100 crore by the end of next year. The Indian Express had reported on July 7 that the government was looking into the possibility of linking passports with the Aadhaar number.

In another indication of the government’s intention to take Aadhaar and the Direct Benefit Transfer scheme further, the note  also says the PMO has directed the Planning Commission to conduct meetings with states and UTs to inform them of the findings of its review report on the current status of Aadhaar.

In July this year, the PMO had asked the plan panel to gather information about Aadhaar with respect to the beneficiaries of five key government schemes in 300 priority districts. The schemes are  MGNREGA, pensions, scholarships, Public Distribution System and LPG. The plan panel was also asked to assess the status of the number of beneficiaries enrolled under Aadhaar as well as those whose accounts are seeded with it and those who have been left out of the process.

At the September 6 meeting, the PM also directed the Home Ministry to enroll prisoners under Aadhaar.

- See more at: http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/aadhaar-link-to-passports/#sthash.jnOYA1nO.dpuf

5798 - Oxigen rolls out eKYC service with NPCI tie-up - Media Nama

Oxigen rolls out eKYC service with NPCI tie-up

By Vivek Pai on Sep 18th, 2014 

Payment solutions provide Oxigen Services India has tied-up with National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) to launch eKYC service to the market.

The company claims to be the first non-bank to launch eKYC services, however it’s worth noting that NPCI website currently lists three non-bank entities including Oxigen as members. Others members include LIC India and Reliance General Insurance Company.

Remember that RBI had allowed Non Banking Financial Companies (NBFC) to accept e-KYC verification as a valid identification process in August this year. This enabled NBFCs to accept e-Aadhaar cards via the UIDAI website as a form of authentication.

Oxigen mentions that customers can sign up for the service by providing their Aadhaar card number and swiping their finger at a biometric scanner at select Oxigen outlets that are connected to its point of sale terminals or PCs. Following this, Oxigen verifies the customer’s Aadhaar number and their biometric information with Aadhaar data base.

After verification and consumer’s consent, the KYC details such as customer’s name, date of birth, photograph and address are stored in the Oxigen Mobile Wallet system as a valid KYC. Oxigen mentions that it will extend this facility to all of its 150,000 touch points soon.

Oxigen mentions that this service will enable customers to make use of Oxigen mobile wallet to carry out transactions of up to Rs 50,000 per transaction for goods and services, transfer upto Rs 25,000 to any bank account per month via Instant money transfer and allows multiple refills of its mobile wallet with up to Rs 50,000 per refill.

OxiCash Money Transfer: It’s worth noting that Oxigen had previously partnered NPCI to launch a non-banking instant money transfer service called OxiCash Money Transfer. The company had then mentioned that this service will allow users to transfer money to any bank account and receive money from any bank to its wallet. These transfers were done through Interbank Mobile Payment Service (IMPS).

Axis Bank- Visa eKYC tie-up: In October last year, Axis Bank had partnered with Visa to launch the first ‘eKYC’ facility in the country. Following this, any with an Aadhaar card could open bank account within minutes by using their biometric data. Axis Bank had then mentioned that facility is currently available in 1,000 Axis Bank branches across 400 centres and it plans to extend the eKYC facility to over 2,000 branches across India by end of October 2013.

Earlier this year, RBI had also started piloting a cash out facility with biometric authentication for mobile wallet services. Calpian-backed Money on Mobile was one of the services selected for this pilot. Money on Mobile was looking to roll out this pilot in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Surat through 52 existing retail partner locations.

5797 - NDA to revive direct benefit transfer on LPG subsidy - Live Mint

NDA to revive direct benefit transfer on LPG subsidy 

The rethink has come about in the backdrop of the launch of the financial inclusion programme that seeks to create a bank account for every household Remya Nair 

There are around 140 million cooking gas customers in the country. Photo: Priyanka Parashar/Mint

Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Politics/TIaRZbsM483Vzr86locZOP/NDA-to-revive-direct-benefit-transfer-on-LPG-subsidy.html?utm_source=copy

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government proposes to revive the direct benefit transfer scheme under which the subsidies on cooking gas and kerosene will be transferred to the bank account of beneficiaries, a top government official said. The rethink has come about in the backdrop of the launch of the financial inclusion programme that seeks to create a bank account for every household. “First, we are looking at transferring kerosene and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) subsidies directly to beneficiaries through bank accounts. There are many states that are already making payments directly into the bank accounts of beneficiaries under various government programmes,” financial services secretary G.S. Sandhu said while addressing a seminar organized by Skoch group. “It will be a calibrated approach.” There are around 140 million cooking gas customers in the country. Transfer of subsidies directly into bank accounts of beneficiaries is expected to prevent leakages and ensure that the beneficiaries get the money they are entitled to. The Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had launched the direct benefits transfer programme last year for transferring benefits under various welfare schemes to beneficiary accounts, but with many beneficiaries not having bank accounts, its progress was limited. It was forced to put on hold its scheme to directly transfer cooking gas subsidies after complaints arose of inadequate linkage of Aadhaar unique identity numbers with bank accounts. Last year, the Supreme Court also ruled that the government could not make Aadhaar numbers mandatory for people to avail of the benefits of government services and subsidies, including the direct benefit transfer scheme for delivery of subsidized cooking gas. But with the launch of Jan Dhan Yojana—the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA’s financial inclusion programme that aims to provide every household with at least one bank account, and which rides on Aadhaar numbers—the government is convinced it is now better equipped to deal with these issues. Earlier this month, the cabinet approved the next phase of the Aadhaar project, involving the extension of the unique identity project to four more states—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand—a move which will increase the number of people with these numbers to 1 billion by the end of 2015. The Unique Identification Authority of India has so far issued 678.6 million Aadhaar numbers. The government has opened more than 40 million accounts under the Jan Dhan scheme since its launch on 28 August, though around 20-25% of these accounts may belong to multiple members of the same household, said Sandhu. The government plans to seed these bank accounts with Aadhaar to weed out multiple bank accounts under the scheme. However, it is not clear how the government will work around the apex court ruling on Aadhaar. Bank accounts opened under the Jan Dhan Yojana are entitled to an overdraft facility of Rs.5000, a RuPay debit card with a personal accident insurance cover of Rs.1 lakh and a life insurance cover of Rs.30,000. “Banks are worried since once the no-frills accounts are opened, hardly any transaction happens in these accounts. But hopefully as more money comes into these accounts through cash transfers of subsidies, these accounts will see more activity,” said Robin Roy, associate director, financial services, PricewaterhouseCoopers India.

Read more at: http://www.livemint.com/Politics/TIaRZbsM483Vzr86locZOP/NDA-to-revive-direct-benefit-transfer-on-LPG-subsidy.html?utm_source=copy

5796 - UIDAI pilot project to weed out 10-12% wrongful beneficiaries in social sector schemes - Economic Times

UIDAI pilot project to weed out 10-12% wrongful beneficiaries in social sector schemes

Yogima Sharma, ET Bureau Sep 18, 2014, 04.11AM IST

NEW DELHI: The government has begun a crackdown on "ghost" beneficiaries of its social sector schemes, a move aimed at curbing misappropriation of funds and strengthening the Aadhaar number-linked direct benefit transfer channel.

The pilot project, to be undertaken by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) which issues the Aadhaar number, will be implemented in 300 of the country's 630 districts. It will cover schemes including distribution of LPG, rural employment guarantee, MGNREGA, the public distribution system, scholarships and old age pension, according to a senior official.

The government is relying on the Aadhaar project to substantially reduce duplicity of beneficiaries and help plug leakages. According to the official, initial findings show that 10-12% of beneficiaries are "ghost" beneficiaries. The pilot project, being monitored by the Planning Commission, will immediately close these accounts.

"The new government has roped in UIDAI to verify the beneficiaries of major flagship schemes and eliminate the ones that are not eligible for the same," the official said on condition of anonymity. "If this is taken up on a massive scale at the national level, the government may end up saving at least Rs 10,000 crore per annum." As mandated by the Prime Minister's Office, the Planning Commission and the UIDAI had jointly prepared a report on the Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme in 300 districts.

Of the 420 million beneficiaries in these districts, bank accounts of only 100 million have been linked with their Aadhaar numbers, while the average Aadhaar coverage was over 70%.

Following this report, the Narendra Modi-led government, which is keen to speed up Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfer of subsidies, has asked Planning Commission to coordinate with states and ensure that UIDAI takes up priority enrollment as well as verification of beneficiaries. Since its start in January 2013, DBT has covered 121 districts, transferring Rs 2,400 crore to 9.4 million under 27 schemes including scholarships (17), pensions (3), motherhood (2) and child development.

5795 - Aadhaar Link to Pattadar Books a Must - Deccan Chronicle

Aadhaar link to pattadar books a must

DC CORRESPONDENT | September 18, 2014, 06.09 am IST

Pattadar passbooks are linked to Aadhaar proof for loan waiver

Ongole: The district administration on Wednesday made it clear that the farmers, whose pattadar passbooks are linked to Aadhaar proof, will get benefit under the loan waiver scheme announced by the government and urged the farmers to link their pattadar passbooks to Aadhaar proof. District collector G.S.R.K.R. Vijay Kumar, on Wednesday addressed a meeting held in the collectorate and said that so far 50 per cent of the pattadar passbooks were linked to the Aadhaar cards in the district.

He directed the officials to speed up the Aadhaar linking to pattadar passbooks. He expressed ire over the officials for delay in executing the work and warned that he would take stern action against the officials, if they fail to seed the pattadar passbooks to Aadhaar cards within two days. Mr Vijay Kumar said that so far 96 per cent of the Aadhaar cards were linked to ration cards. 

The land distributed in Kothapatnam mandal to SC, ST beneficiaries, were encroached by other people. He directed the revenue officials to submit details of lands belonging to the SC, STs that were encroached to the police for taking appropriate action. District revenue officer G. Gangadhar Gowd, Kandukur sub-collector, A. Mallikarjuna, Ongole RDO M.S. Murali was among those participated in the meeting. Meanwhile, the district administration is planning to set up mobile Aadhaar centres to issue Aadhaar cards to all the families in the district, before December this year.

Tags: 

5794 - UIDAI pilot project to weed out 10-12% wrongful beneficiaries in social sector schemes - Economic Times

UIDAI pilot project to weed out 10-12% wrongful beneficiaries in social sector schemes

By Yogima Sharma, ET Bureau | 18 Sep, 2014, 04.11AM IST

24 comments |

The government is relying on the Aadhaar project to substantially reduce duplicity of beneficiaries and help plug leakages. 

NEW DELHI: The government has begun a crackdown on "ghost" beneficiaries of its social sector schemes, a move aimed at curbing misappropriation of funds and strengthening the Aadhaar number-linked direct benefit transfer channel.

The pilot project, to be undertaken by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) which issues the Aadhaar number, will be implemented in 300 of the country's 630 districts. It will cover schemes including distribution of LPG, rural employment guarantee, MGNREGA, the public distribution system, scholarships and old age pension, according to a senior official.

The government is relying on the Aadhaar project to substantially reduce duplicity of beneficiaries and help plug leakages. According to the official, initial findings show that 10-12% of beneficiaries are "ghost" beneficiaries. The pilot project, being monitored by the Planning Commission, will immediately close these accounts.

"The new government has roped in UIDAI to verify the beneficiaries of major flagship schemes and eliminate the ones that are not eligible for the same," the official said on condition of anonymity. "If this is taken up on a massive scale at the national level, the government may end up saving at least Rs 10,000 crore per annum." As mandated by the Prime Minister's Office, the Planning Commission and the UIDAI had jointly prepared a report on the Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme in 300 districts.

Of the 420 million beneficiaries in these districts, bank accounts of only 100 million have been linked with their Aadhaar numbers, while the average Aadhaar coverage was over 70%.

Following this report, the Narendra Modi-led government, which is keen to speed up Aadhaar-linked direct benefit transfer of subsidies, has asked Planning Commission to coordinate with states and ensure that UIDAI takes up priority enrollment as well as verification of beneficiaries. Since its start in January 2013, DBT has covered 121 districts, transferring Rs 2,400 crore to 9.4 million under 27 schemes including scholarships (17), pensions (3), motherhood (2) and child development.

5793 - Centre's ambitious DNA Profiling Bill hits privacy roadblock - India Today

Centre's ambitious DNA Profiling Bill hits privacy roadblock

Jaskirat Singh Bawa  New Delhi, September 15, 2014 | UPDATED 18:50 IST

Privacy issue is one of the concerns that has stalled the ambitious DNA Profiling Bill of the Union government.

The Centre on Monday has informed the Supreme Court of a few hurdles which is holding up the bill.

The Union government, in an affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court in response to a query on a plea filed by NGO Lokniti Foundation, said international NGOs and experts have expressed concerns on the privacy-related aspects of establishing a National DNA Data Bank under this bill.

The NGO had raised concerns about the thousands of unidentified dead bodies that remain unclaimed in the country.

The proposed DNA profiling mechanism needs a large number of trained personnel which India does not have. Estimates indicate one DNA Examiner can handle a 100 cases per year. So for the purpose of identifying 40,000 unidentified dead bodies, India would need at least 400 examiners. India currently has 30-40 examiners for the entire population," the government has said.

"A single DNA profiling case costs Rs.20,000. Which means for an estimated 40,000 unidentified dead bodies annually, Rs.80 crores is needed. Add to that the salaries of examiners and support employees," it said.

According to the submission, the objective of the bill is "to establish a National DNA Data Bank, a DNA Profiling Board and the use of DNA profiles for specified purposes".

The proposed DNA Profiling Board will include experts in molecular biology, human genetics, population biology, bioethics, social sciences, law and criminal justice.

The proposed DNA Profiling Body will serve as an authority to define and establish standards for DNA profiling, to implement quality control measures, including the accreditation of DNA profiling labs, to authorise communication of DNA profiles to National law enforcement agencies and other agencies for civil proceedings and crime investigation and to make recommendations for maximising the use of DNA techniques and technologies.

The proposed bill was first raised in political discourse in 2007 and by 2012 work had begun on drafting the bill.

5792 - Avoid hasty rollout of Jan Dhan: Raghuram Rajan - Economic Times

Avoid hasty rollout of Jan Dhan: Raghuram Rajan

By TNN | 16 Sep, 2014, 10.50AM IST

MUMBAI: Reserve Bank of India governor Raghuram Rajan on Monday cautioned banks against hasty implementation of the Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana — a scheme aimed at providing every household with a bank account. 

Rajan warned bankers against three main risks: banks opening multiple accounts for the same person; concluding the scheme with patchy coverage; and opening accounts that end up being dormant.  

"The objective of the scheme is universality (of bank accounts), it is not just speed or numbers," said Rajan in his speech at FIBAC, an annual banking event organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Indian Banks Association. 

Rajan warned bankers against three main risks: banks opening multiple accounts for the same person; concluding the scheme with patchy coverage; and opening accounts that end up being dormant. 

"The system is going to be a waste if what we do generates a whole set of duplicate accounts. It is going to be a waste if you do not have full coverage. It is going to be a waste if those accounts are not used, they open and they languish. Many of the persons who are coming into the system are coming for the first time, so if we don't make a good first impression, they will stay out. Let us ensure it works," Rajan said. 

Most of the schemes that aim to cover the entire population have had their share of errors in on-boarding citizen information. The Unique Identification Authority of India's Aadhaar scheme is a long way from achieving universal coverage. The scheme was in the news this week following reports that a card was issued in the name of Hindu deity Hanuman. 

Bankers say that Aadhaar is crucial for the success of the Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana as only accounts linked to Aadhaar can receive direct benefits from the government. Since Aadhaar is backed by biometric readings, it eliminates the risk of duplication. But while banks have been given targets for completion under the Jan Dhan Yojana, they do not have control over Aadhaar implementation. 

The idea of universal bank accounts was originally proposed by a panel constituted by the RBI to improve financial inclusion which was headed by veteran banker Nachiket Mor. Rajan said that universal financial access is national priority and would improve financial savings, reduce leakages through direct benefit transfer and bring down use of cash. 

5791 - Tahsildars Rapped for Delayed Pattadar-Aadhaar Seeding - Indian Express

Tahsildars Rapped for Delayed Pattadar-Aadhaar Seeding

By Express News Service

Published: 17th September 2014 06:13 AM

VIJAYAWADA: Krishna district joint collector J Murali has expressed his ire against tahsildars for the delay in Pattadar-Aadhar seeding process. The district is in eighth position in Aadhar seeding due to the inefficiency of tahsildars in completing the process, even as many ground-level and district-level meetings were conducted in this regard, he blamed.

During a video conference on Aadhar seeding at the Collector’s Camp Office here Tuesday, the joint collector said that permanent Aadhar enrollment offices were set up in each mandal to speed up the seeding process, after taking the suggestions of tahsildars into account. “But then, there was poor response from the public due to the lethargic attitude of the officials.”

He told the tahsildars to issue memos to village revenue officers to speed up the process and complete Aadhar seeding by September 18. He also directed them to submit the complete record of pattadar account holders including the holder’s name, village name, Aadhaar number and other details by September

• 0 Comments 
• The New Indian Express 
• Login
  
• 
  1
  

• Sort by Newest
  
• Favorite
  
• Share 

Start the discussion…

• Attach
  

Be the first to comment.

WHAT'S THIS?

ALSO ON THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS

• Early Warning of System Failure 
• 1 comment a day ago
• 
  
• Kuldeep Saxena — There has been miscalculation in strategy formation as well …
• Mulayam Wipes Smirk Off BJP's Face With Decisive Bypoll Win 
• 2 comments a day ago
• 
  
• NARENDRA M APTE — (1) The by-election results are not unexpected results.(2) …
• BJP Losing Ground in UP, Neck and Neck in Gujarat in Bypolls 
• 3 comments 2 days ago
• 
  
• vinod varghese — Secular bird eat cow dung and sleep.
• China's Tibetan Tussle 
• 1 comment a day ago
• 
  
• Tenzin Lhadon — Brainwash their people with false accusation at His Holiness …

• Powered by Disqus
• 
  Subscribe
  
• 
  Add Disqus to your site

Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. comments powered by Disqus

Disclaimer: We respect your thoughts and views! But we need to be judicious while moderating your comments. All the comments will be moderated by the NIE editorial. Abstain from posting comments that are obscene, defamatory or inflammatory, and do not indulge in personal attacks. Try to avoid outside hyperlinks inside the comment. Help us delete comments that do not follow these guidelines.

Read More

People's Participation in Cleanliness Drive Important: Shah

Liberia Hopes US Ebola Aid Pushes World to do More

Sensex Down Over 118 Points on Profit-booking, Global Cues

Russell, Ten Doeschate were Unbelievable, Says Gambhir

Women's Double in Feather Fight

Smartphone Users Spending More Time on Apps: Study

Tata Motors Launches its New Car

Youth Rally at Marina Beach Marks World Ozone Day

Movies

'Aagadu' to Release in Record Number of Screens in US

more

Travel

56% Indians Book Their Travel 3 Months in Advance

more

Food

Sky's the Limit

more

Books

Of The Stories Within

more

• Editor's Picks
  
  Most Read Most Emailed

• Solar Pumps All Set to Quench Thirst in Rural Areas in Telangana Very Soon
• India-Nepal Relationship Unique: Nepal Vice President
• Army Warns Candidates against Using Performance Boosters in Recruitments
• Modi Turns 64; Meets Mother to Seek Blessings
• India Made Progress in Fighting Child Deaths, Malnutrition, but Short of Goals: UN

Today's Pick

Hyderabad

Every Minute Counts For CAT'14

More

Bangalore

Wealth of Wisdom

More

Bangalore

Coffee and Mist: A Monsoon Journal from Coorg

More

Bangalore

Follett Tweaks Beststeller Formula

More

Bangalore

Nomads Profit From Boom in Donkey’s Milk Business

More

Tweets

Follow

• 16m
  
• Chencho Sherin @Chenscribes
  
  Miser's Misery!! http://
  bit.ly/1uVIpao
  
   #theatre #Malayalamplay #Kootupalisha @NewIndianXpress
  Retweeted by New Indian Express
  
  Expand
• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite
• 18m
  
• New Indian Express @NewIndianXpress
  
  Allegations against #CBI director can be verified by examining the docu and guards who had manned his official residence: #NGO tells #SC.
  
  Expand
• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite
• 37m
  
• Mouly Mareedu @moulimareedu
  
  Five-yr-old #victim was #assaultedSexually in #Cyberabad, accused is absconding. A case was booked, @NewIndianXpress
  Retweeted by New Indian Express
  
  Expand
• Reply
• Retweet
• Favorite

Tweet to @NewIndianXpress

States

New State Raises Job Hopes Among Youth

TS May Rope in Centre to Keep Metro Rail on Track

KPCC Chief Meets Sonia, Seeks No 2 Position Again

Pinched by the Crunch, Govt Puts Squeeze Back on Taxes

Fight For Votes Spills Over to Streets on Eve of By-poll

Govt Recovers 76-acre Ghangapatna Land

• Top News
• Nation
• World
• States
• Andhra Pradesh
• Telangana
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu
• Odisha
• Cities
• Bangalore
• Chennai
• Kochi
• Thiruvananthapuram
• Hyderabad

• Business
• News
• Trading Star
• Cricket
• News
• IPL
• Features
• Columnists
• Interviews
• T20 World Cup
• Sport
• Auto

• Entertainment
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Malayalam
• Kannada
• Hindi
• English
• Gossip
• Interviews
• Reviews
• Television
• Fashion
• On stage
• Photos
• Videos

• Education
• Lifestyle
• Travel
• Food
• Health
• Books
• Spirituality
• Tech
• Magazine
• Voices
• The Sunday Standard

• Editorials
• Columns
• Prabhu Chawla
• T J S George
• Ravi Shankar
• V Sudarshan
• Shampa Dhar-Kamath
• Shankkar Aiyar
• Soli J Sorabjee
• Karamatullah K Ghori
• S Gurumurthy
• Kamlendra Kanwar

• Photos
• Nation
• World
• Sport
• Other
• Videos
• Nation
• World
• Sport
• Other
• Group Sites
• Dinamani
• Kannada Prabha
• Sakhi
• Cinema Express
• Malayalam Vaarika
• Coupons

• Archives
• About Us
• Contact Us
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Advertise With Us

Copyright © 2014, The New Indian Express. All rights reserved.