Multipurpose National Identity Card (India)

The Multipurpose National Identity Card (MNIC) project is an initiative of the Indian government to create a national ID for every Indian citizen with the objective of increasing national security, managing citizen identity and facilitating e-governance.

The project was initiated under the Vajpayee, NDA government (circa 2002), which has since been continued by the present UPA government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The project's importance was underscored by President Abdul Kalam in his 2006 Independence Day eve address to the nation [http://www.indianexpress.com/printerFriendly/10639.html] .

Objectives of the MNIC Project

* To prepare a National Population Register (NPR)
* To prepare National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC)
* To prepare National Register of Residency (NRR) – for non-citizens
* To provide National Identity Number (NIN) to each person
* To provide Multi-purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) to each citizen
* To provide Multi-purpose Residency Card to non-citizens

Security, the First Mandate

The Group of Ministers recommendation on the MNIC states National Security as the raison d'être of the project.

Para 5.110 of the report of the GoM on Reforming the National Security System recommends:

“Illegal migration has assumed serious proportions. There should be compulsory registration of citizens and non-citizens living in India. This will facilitate preparation of a national register of citizens. All citizens should be given a Multi-purpose National Identity Card (MNIC) and non-citizens should be issued identity cards of a different colour and design. This should be introduced initially in the border districts or may be in a 20 km border belt and extended to the hinterland progressively. The Central Government should meet the full cost of the identity card scheme.”

Design of the Cards

The first few issued ID Cards look completely different from the prototype by the Vajpayee Government. The tricolor is missing. And there is less printed information on the card. [http://www.ibnlive.com/news/a-smart-card-thatll-unite-india/41427-3.html]
image source: The Tribune (India)

Privacy Implications

There are many potential privacy fallouts of this project, not the least of which is triggered by the Government's official plan to link the databases together.The MNIC is also unconstitutional as it violates fundamental right to privacy. [http://www.mit.gov.in/plan/ppt/national%20ID.ppt] .

Implementation Status

The MNIC Project is currently in pilot mode in at least 12 states of India. While the exact status of the project is unknown, as of this writing on May 26, 2007, the project has kicked off a fresh round of card distribution to provide two million cards to people above 18 years in 13 districts across 12 States and the Union Territory of Puducherry [http://www.hindu.com/2007/05/26/stories/2007052601511300.htm] .

Earlier plans and reports indicated that the project was in pilot, or was attempted in the following 20 selected sub-districts of 13 States and Union territories.

Legal amendments made to facilitate the project

The Citizenship Act, 1955, has been amended and now a specific section on registration of citizens & issuing cards has been included. In addition the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 has been notified in the Government of India Gazette Vide "GSR No. 937(E) dated:- 10th December, 2003".

Important amendments to the provisions of the Citizenship Act, 1955

Section 14A(1) The Central Government may compulsorily register every citizen of India and issue national identity card to him.

(2) The Central Government may maintain a National Register of Indian Citizens and for that purpose establish a National Registration Authority.

(3) On and from the date of commencement of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003, the Registrar General, India, appointed under sub-section (1) of section 3 of the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 shall act as the National Registration Authority and he shall function as the Registrar General of Citizen Registration.

(4) The Central Government may appoint such other officers and staff as may be required to assist the Registrar General of Citizen Registration in discharging his functions and responsibilities.

(5) The procedure to be followed in compulsory registration of the citizens of India shall be such as may be prescribed.

In sub-section(2) of section 18 (ia) has been inserted after clause (i) the procedure to be followed in compulsory registration of the citizens of India under sub-section (5) of section 14A;

In sub-section (3) of section 18 the following proviso has been inserted “PROVIDED that any rule made in respect of a matter specified in clause (ia) of sub-section (2) may provide that a breach thereof shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both”.

MNIC Technology

The MNIC is a smart card with 16KB of memory designed to be in line with the specifications laid out in ISO 7816 and SCOSTA. Earlier smart card applications of the Government of India have adapted the ISO 7816 specifications under the SCOSTA (Smart Card Operating System for Transport Applications) [http://www.scosta.gov.in/] program of the government of India. The cards are designed to support a minimum of 300,000 EEPROM write cycles and will retain data for at least 10 years (Source: Government Tender notice for card manufacturers, date unknown, see (

The official [http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=28238 Government of India Press release] that followed the media launch of the MNIC on 25 May 2007 describes the technology as follows: The identity card being given to each individual citizen, has a micro processor chip with a memory of 16 KB which is a secure card. Besides having several physical features into the design of the card, it is the cyber security using ‘asymmetric key cryptography’ and ‘symmetric key cryptography’ that has made the card secure against the risk of tempering "(sic)" and cloning. The National Informatics Centre has made a major contribution towards developing the processes for database management and smart card technology.

References

* [http://www.mit.gov.in/plan/ppt/national%20ID.ppt Presentation on MNIC by the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner, India, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi] 2004
* [http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/10968.html Numbered Lives, Indian Express, August 20, 2006]
* [http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/10969.html The ID-entity bogey, Indian Express, August 20, 2006]
* [http://www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/10970.html After 33 months, ‘count the dead’, Indian Express, August 20, 2006]
* [http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/full_story.php?content_id=16574r ‘Mother of I-cards’: 5000-cr tag, Indian Express, January 13, 2003]
* [http://www.himalmag.com/2005/november/analysis_7.html India’s national ID scheme is ‘on schedule’, Himal 'South Asian', November 2005]
* [http://www.indianexpress.com/story/21028.html UPA takes forward NDA idea: National I-D card project rolls this March, 18 lakh in first lot, Indian Express, January 16, 2007]
* [http://mnic.nic.in/ MNIC Official site]
* [http://www.scosta.gov.in/ SCOSTA Official Site]

ee also

* [http://www.and.nic.in/idcard/Default.htm Andaman & Nicobar Islander ID Cards status]