Cabinet may take final call on future of UIDAI today

The Cabinet Committee is likely to meet on Friday to take the final decision on the proposal to give statutory powers to Nandan Nilekani-led UIDAI to issue national identity cards to the entire population instead of the mandated 200 million.

The collection of biometric data for the UIDs has also sparked a row - with both the Home Ministry and the UIDAI authorised to collect data. However, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia has thrown his weight behind the Nilekani's UIDAI.

Home Minister P Chidambaram has sought clarity on the status on who will capture bio-metric data - RGI or UIDAI. The Home Ministry feels the data collected by UIDAI is not secure as it is not verified by a government servant.

The data collection by UIDAI has been done by hired organisations which is a cause of concern for the Home Minister.