Voter IDs and biometrics to replace Aadhaar for welfare scheme payments
GS2Polity · Governance · IR· Poverty, hunger & nutrition· Prelims + Mains·
Identity verification and social justice: a GS2 case study on welfare distribution mechanisms.
Why in news
Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh announced that voter identity cards and biometrics will replace Aadhaar as the primary identification for welfare scheme payments.
Background
The Union Minister for Panchayati Raj announced the shift in Gangtok. The new system requires EPIC numbers and biometric authentication to verify identities for government payments.
Facts for Prelims
- PostRajiv Ranjan Singh: Union Minister for Panchayati Raj
- FactEPIC: Electoral Photo Identity Card numbers required for welfare verification
- FactBiometric authentication to be used alongside voter IDs for identity verification
Prelims practice question
Which identification card number is required for welfare verification under the new system?
- (a)Driving License
- (b)PAN
- (c)Passport
- (d)EPIC
Show answer
Answer: (d) EPIC — The note specifies that Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) numbers are required for welfare verification.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the implications of shifting from Aadhaar to voter IDs and biometrics for welfare distribution in ensuring transparency and preventing fraudulent beneficiaries.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Identity verification: Balancing ease of access for rural beneficiaries against the security of biometric data
- Administrative friction: Potential logistical hurdles in syncing EPIC databases with welfare distribution modules
Keywords: Transparency · Fraudulent beneficiaries · Identity verification · Welfare distribution · Biometric authentication
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.