80% of Aadhaar holders believe biometric ID has streamlined government subsidies: Report

About 80% of Aadhaar cardholders believe that the biometric ID system has streamlined government schemes like public distribution system ration and social pension services, a Dalberg report, backed by the Omidyar Network India, said.

The world’s largest biometric ID system, Aadhaar, has been around for a decade now.  The Unique Identification Authority of India’s establishment in 2009 and the subsequent work by the government to collect data raised several questions on data privacy. 

Currently, around 1.2 billion people in the country have an Aadhaar card and close to 39% of people regularly use the biometric details to get rations. 

The recent survey shows that although Aadhaar has been widely accepted and people are happy with the system, key issues remain. 

Around 95% of adults have an Aadhaar in the country. What’s worrying is that over 90% of the unique identification cardholder incorrectly believe that providing Aadhaar is required by law for opening a bank account and that their data is in secure hands, the report by the social impact advisory group, Dalberg, found. 

The unique identity card holders appreciated the benefits that come with the system, however, they are concerned about the risks of linking too many services with a single ID.

Respondents also reported seeing improvements in the reliability of welfare service and access to private-sector services after obtaining the Aadhaar card. 

A majority, however, found it difficult to update the Aadhaar information. Around 33% believe updating the card is the hardest part; one in five not being able to do so.

“People appreciate the convenience of a single card that is universally accepted and trust that the Aadhaar system protects their data as well as access to their benefits. Almost everyone is satisfied with Aadhaar, including a majority of people who face difficulties,” the report said.

The State of Aadhaar: A People’s Perspective report was based on data from 167,000 households spanning 28 states and union territories.