March 19, 2002

'5'

    A proposal to issue Multipurpose National Identity Cards (MNICs) to Indian citizens, including the people residing in the border areas of the country, is receiving the Government’s attention. These cards apart from providing a credible identification system, may have multifarious uses.

    The issue of MNICs would involve creation of an identification system for more than one billion citizens, streamlining the existing machinery for the registration of births and deaths at the grass root levels and choices of institutional as well as technological options for the creation of an integrated data base of personal identities capable of being continuously updated. The Government would finalize its decision only after an in-depth examination of all relevant issues and after making necessary preparations, including the legal backing to the scheme.

    This was stated by the Minister of State for Home, Shri Ch. Vidyasagar Rao in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.