The government is planning to take another big step for which aadhaar card will be must, and this time it’s for booking domestic flights, and as an access to different entry points at airport. After booking tickets using aadhaar number, passengers will use their thumbs on touch pads at airport entry so that the whole process after booking tickets is effortless. It’s onus is on IT company Wipro, who will develop the blueprint for Aadhaar-based biometric access to flyers at all airports across India. The move is not for international flights, as passport will be valid as an identity proof in that case.

Guruprasad Mohapatra, chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI) said,” Wipro is expected to give the report by early May and then airports will begin the process of a passenger’s thumb being all the identification he or she requires to fly for domestic flights.” He further added, “If implemented, the passengers will have to give their Aadhaar numbers at the time of booking tickets. Once they reach the airport they are flying out of, flyers can just keep their thumb on touch pad at entry point. Once inside, a similar process can be repeated at other places like check-in. We want passengers to have as seamless and effortless travel experience at airports as possible.”

Few days back, Government had notified all telecom operators to initiate the process of aadhaar-based verification of new and existing mobile phone. Moreover, PAN card will be declared invalid if it’s not linked with aadhaar number. It will be implemented from 1 July 2017 onwards. Income tax returns filing will also be not possible without unique identity number from 1 July 2017 onwards.

Aadhaar number based verification will be must for driving licence including it’s renewal post October.

Modi government had made clear in the past that Aadhaar card would be an important tool in the future.