Supreme Court asks Centre to withdraw orders making Aadhar mandatory for any service.

BS Post: 104, Dated : 24 March 2014, Place : Mumbai, .

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to explain why Aadhaar cards were still being treated as mandatory for people who wished to get their marriages and properties registered or get gas connections.

The order came after the Centre told a bench of justice BS Chauhan and justice SA Bobde that securing an Aadhaar number was voluntary.

The Supreme Court had in September last year said no person will be denied welfare benefits, various services and subsidies for not possessing the Aadhaar number and also asked the government to ensure that the cards were not issued to illegal migrants.

The SC on Monday directed the central government to withdraw all its orders making the unique identification number mandatory for people for availing government services.

The apex court also asked the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) not to share information of the Aadhaar card holders with any government outfit.

Launched in February 2009 at a projected cost of Rs. 15,000 crore, Aadhaar is designed to provide every resident in India a unique 12-digit identity number.

Passport Seva goes rural through Common Services Centers

BS Post: 103, Dated : 06 March 2014, Place : Mumbai, .

06-March-2014 PIB GoI.

The Ministry of External Affairs, along with CSC e-Governance Services India Limited {which is promoted by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY)}, is all set to launch Passport related services through the vast network of over one lakh Common Services Centers (CSCs) across rural hinterland. The initiative would largely bridge the digital divide in the country. 

The CSC Scheme was approved by the Government of India in September 2006 for setting up of 100,000+ (One Lakh+) Internet enabled centers in rural areas under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP). The CSCs are the delivery points for Government, Private and Social Sector services in the areas of agriculture, health, education, banking, insurance, pension, utility bill payments, entertainment, etc. to rural citizens of India at their doorstep. The passport related services are being added as part of their bouquet of services. 

Under the Passport Seva, the Ministry of External affairs has made it mandatory to complete the entire form filing process on-line, including payment of applicable fee and scheduling of appointment for seeking Passport related services. The CSCs would facilitate filling and uploading of Passport application form, payment of applicable fee (through debit/credit card or through SBI internet banking/challan mode) and scheduling of appointment for the visit to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) at nominal charge not exceeding Rs. 100/-. As per the appointment schedule, an applicant will have to visit the PSK for completion of application submission process (including collection of digital photographs/biometrics, verification of supporting documents and approval). The services through CSCs would be available throughout the week, including during the weekend. 

The services would be shortly launched in pilot mode at 15 select CSC locations in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand in the second week of March 2014. The full roll out across the country is expected to conclude by end of March 2014. 

Passport Seva to be launched for rural areas.

BS Post: 102, Dated : 05 March 2014, Place : Mumbai.

The Ministry of External Affairs, along with CSC e-Governance Service India Limited is all set to launch passport related services through the vast network of over 1 lakh Common Service Centers (CSCs) across rural hinterland.

The services would be shortly launched in pilot mode at 15 select CSC locations in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand in the second week of March 2014. The full roll-out across the country is expected to conclude by end of March 2014.

The initiative would largely bridge the digital divide in the country. CSC e-Governance Service India Limited is promoted by the Department of Electronics and Information Technology, Government of India (GoI). The CSC Scheme was approved by the GoI in September 2006 for setting up of 1 lakh-plus Internet enabled centers in rural areas under the National e-Governance Plan (NeGP). The CSCs are the delivery points for Government, private and social sector services in the areas of agriculture, health, education, banking, insurance, pension, utility bill payments, entertainment, etc., to rural citizens of India at their doorstep. The passport related services are being added as part of their bouquet of services.

Under the Passport Seva, the Ministry has made it mandatory to complete the entire form filling process on-line, including payment of applicable fee and scheduling of appointment for seeking passport related services.

The CSCs would facilitate filling and uploading of passport application form, payment of applicable fee (through debit/credit card or through SBI internet banking/challan mode) and scheduling of appointment for the visit to the Passport Seva Kendra (PSK) at a nominal charge not exceeding Rs.100/-. As per the appointment schedules, an applicant will have to visit the PSK for completion of application submission process (including collection of digital photographs/ biometrics, verification of supporting documents and approval).

The services through CSCs would be available throughout the week, including during the weekend.