Implementation Issues of Aadhaar: The Human Resource Information System for India

This chapter examines the implementation issues of Aadhaar, the brand name for the unique identification (UID) for residents of India and one of the ambitious projects of Government of India. The UID is a 12-digit unique identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and is considered by policymakers as a critical and unparallel human resource information system in resolving identity crisis of residents, effective enforcement of individual rights and improving the delivery of social benefits by eliminating multiple identification mechanisms across various government departments while also strengthening national security. Use of information technology for human resource management is not new to corporate sector. But application of the same for Indian population is highly complex due to the heterogeneity of the vast population with wide range of demographics, and added are the reliability of biometrics, issues of illegal migrants, insufficiency of penalties for violations when the project promises financial inclusion and many more amidst a lot of criticism from all corners. The study, therefore, reveals that the managerial aspects of implementation especially multilateral consensus among different machineries of government and commitment to take the project to the appropriate application and utility would decide the success of Aadhaar and recommends a coherent approach towards concerned stakeholders including the citizens and major ministries in implementation.