India's biometrics-backed identity database has crossed the one billion-user mark.IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad revealed the progress in New Delhi today, while hailing it as “an instrument of good governance” at a ceremony in New Delhi marking the crossing of the one-billion member mark.Prasad added that the initiative, inherited from the previous left-leaning Congress government, had enabled millions to receive cash benefits directly rather than dealing with middlemen.He said the government had saved 150 billion rupees ($2.27 billion) on its gas subsidy scheme alone — by paying cash directly to biometric card holders instead of providing cylinders at subsidised rates.He noted that privacy was being address under the scheme.”We have taken all measures to ensure privacy. The data will not be shared with anyone except in cases of national security,” Prasad said.
India achieves 1 billion signups for Aadhaar
