Infosys CEO to Head First National ID System

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Jun. 26 – The co-founder of Infosys Technologies has resigned from his post to head the agency tasked to gather data from citizens for the first national identification system.

Nandan Nilekani will lead the National Unique Identification Authority as chairperson with the monumental task of organizing data from the nation’s more than 1 billion citizens. Infosys is one of India’s most successful software companies and it will be the first time a corporate CEO will be given a Cabinet minister’s rank and status in the UPA.

The national ID system will remove the need for Indians to carry multiple identification cards just to be able to do such tasks as availing of public services, getting a telephone connection, paying taxes, voting and claiming benefits.

If Nilekani does deliver a world-class system that will capture biometric data of a citizen besides his/ her photograph and personal details, various central ministries can decide whether they can use this platform to meet their requirements, said Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia told Indian Express.

“I expect the first set of cards to be issued by one of the partners in 12-18 months,” Nilekani told The Indian Express.