Nandan Nilekani info czar
India gets Info czar ... Infosys co-chairman Nandan Nilekani ('78) will steer an ambitious scheme to provide a Unique Identification (UID) number to all Indian citizens. Mr. Nilekani will have the rank and status of a Cabinet minister, joining Jairam Ramesh as the second IIT Bombay alumnus in the Union Cabinet.
The Indian government has begun moves to provide a Unique Identification (UID) number to its citizens, the central government has announced. It has appointed Infosys Technologies co-chairman Nandan Nilekani as head of a new body to determine how the scheme will be implemented. The project will mean that all Indian adults will have to carry what is in effect an identity card.It was a key commitment in the election manifesto of the Congress party.
Mr Nilekani will be the chairman of UIDAI and will have a place in the Indian cabinet. He has resigned his membership of Infosys Board of Directors following his appointment. Experts say the scheme is likely to take several years to implement.
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