The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory body responsible for implementing the Aadhaar project.
Following the enactment of the Aadhaar Act in 2016, UIDAI was placed under the administrative control of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
MeitY is the appropriate ministry as Aadhaar is a digital identity platform involving large-scale data management and information technology infrastructure.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
Option A: While UIDAI was initially constituted under the Planning Commission (which was later replaced by NITI Aayog) in 2009, it is no longer under its jurisdiction.
Option B: The Home Ministry deals with internal security, citizenship, and census operations (through the Registrar General of India). Aadhaar is a unique identity for residents, not a proof of citizenship, and thus does not fall under the Home Ministry.
Option D: The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation is responsible for the coverage and quality aspects of statistics and the monitoring of government programs. While UIDAI deals with data, its primary role is identity management, not general statistical analysis for the country.
Related Visual
Clinical Relevance
Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Governance and Administrative Bodies in India as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Aadhaar is increasingly linked to healthcare services in India, including registration at hospitals and availing benefits under schemes like Ayushman Bharat - Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY).
Nurses and healthcare administrators often need to guide patients on using their Aadhaar for accessing services, making awareness of its governing body relevant.
What if the question was about the census? In that case, the correct answer would be the Home Ministry, as the Office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner falls under its purview.
How to Approach the Question
First, identify the key entity in the question, which is 'UIDAI'.
Recall or deduce the primary function of UIDAI, which is managing the Aadhaar card system.
Consider the nature of Aadhaar – it's a large-scale, technology-driven, digital identity project.
Evaluate the given options. The 'Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology' is the most logical fit for a digital identity program.
Eliminate the other options based on their distinct roles: NITI Aayog is a policy think-tank, the Home Ministry handles internal security and citizenship, and the Ministry of Statistics focuses on national data collection and analysis.
Concept Tested & Keywords
Concept Tested: Governance and Administrative Bodies in India
Stem keywords: UIDAI
Lead-in keywords: comes under
Question ID
Q_nmyT7gpvjSIg0SnArpaO
Practise the full AIIMS Manglagiri NO - 2019
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.