National Identity card to be launched on May 26

New Delhi, May 25: Amid emerging security concerns, the Centre will launch here tomorrow a credible individual identification system which may eventually be extended throughout the country by issuing a smart card to all citizens.

Registrar General of India D K Sikri will release the first 'National Identity Card' under a pilot project at a function to be held at Narela tomorrow.

''It will be a multi-purpose card with a microprocessor chip,'' official sources said here today, adding, ''it is also aimed at helping the e-governance by improving the citizen-Government interface.'' ''This is a secure card,'' the sources said, pointing out that it is being introduced on the basis of the recommendations of a Technical Committee constituted by the Government.

This committee has representatives from prestigious institutions such as National Informatics Centre (NIC), IIT Kanpur, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Indian Telephone Industries Limited (ITI) and Electronics Corporation India Limited (ECIL) and Intelligence Bureau (IB).

A pilot project has been implemented on an experimental basis in select sub-districts of 12 states and one Union territory, keeping in view the complexities involved.

''We are releasing about 30 National Identity cards at Narela under the pilot project tomorrow. The scheme will be implemented in the entire country after taking into account the experiences gained and lessons learnt from the pilot project,'' the sources added.

The production and distribution of identity cards in states covered under the pilot project would be completed by July this year, the sources said.

A sum of Rs 44.36 crore has been sanctioned for the pilot project.

UNI