India plans fingerprint IDs for billion-plus citizens

NEW DELHI — India's 1.16 billion people are each to receive their own identity number under a monumental plan designed to cut corruption and improve distribution of state benefits.

The project -- modelled on social security numbers in the United States -- will compile an Internet database of the personal details, fingerprints and photograph of every Indian across the vast and chaotic country.

The 16-digit number will be the one-stop proof for all Indians to establish their identity, eliminating the current need to produce multiple personal documents even for something as simple as getting a pre-paid mobile phone.

Eventually all new-born children will be issued with an ID number, and eye-scan technology will also be introduced in the long-term.

"We need one single non-duplicate way of identifying a person and we need a mechanism by which we can authenticate anywhere that someone is who they say they are," Nilekani said.

"Once you say your name and put your finger on a fingerprint reader, the information will show the truth.