News in Brief

Land to Get 14-Digit ID in India

The central government of India has directed all states to complete the process of allocating the Unique Land Parcel Identification Number (ULPIN) in all villages by the end of March 2024.

Just as Aadhaar is a 12-digit unique identity number for the citizens of India, the ULPIN project stipulates allotting a 14-digit ID to each plot.

ULPIN is envisaged as part of the Digital India Land Records Modernisation Programme. It aims to compile every detail pertaining to different properties from across the country.

The authorities have so far generated 90 million ULPINs in just one year, but the project has been off to a rather slow start in several states, including Kerala.

The authorities have decided to implement the project in all states except Meghalaya, where the system of community land ownership exists. The Central Land Revenue Department has now directed all eligible states to start implementing the programme.

The ULPIN project is being launched to ensure more transparency on property deals as, once allocated, this number will form the basis of all transactions involving land.

Various types of data related to land properties, which are currently stored at different ministries and departments, will be linked with the ULPIN. If loans have been taken out against a property, it too will be linked with this unique number.

The central government expects the system to eventually bring an end to the practice of taking out multiple loans secured against the same property.

Nepal Scraps Work Procedure on National ID

The Nepalese government has decided to scrap the work procedure prepared by the former Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane to award the contract for the national identity card.

The cabinet took the decision by forming a three member probe team led by a secretary of the Prime Minister’s office. ‘The cabinet meeting decided to scrap the work procedure related to the national identity card,’ said Rekha Sharma, government spokesperson at a press conference organised to reveal its decision following the cabinet meeting. ‘The cabinet also decided to investigate how the decision was made, as well as the overall issue.’

Sharma said the decision was made in the broader context of national security and security of personal data.

Former Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Lamichhane, who also chairs the Rastriya Swatantra Party, had awarded the contract for the national identity card to an international company that had been given the responsibility of applying the personal and biological details collected in the national ID card database.

The decision to scrap the work procedure was taken at the suggestion of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who has said that the work procedure is in contradiction of the Public Procurement Act and should be ditched.

However, former Home Minister Lamichhane maintains that his decision on the matter was only a continuity of a process that had been underway long before he came to office.

UK Seeking Deal to Allow Easier Travel Access to Europe

The UK government hopes to obtain an agreement that would allow British passport holders to use eGates when travelling in the EU.

British diplomats initially raised the issue informally and then UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s official spokesperson later said: ‘we are working closely with the European Commission and member states to understand the impacts of the introduction of the EU entry/exit system for British citizens, and our priority is always to minimise unnecessary delays for British passengers’.

Such a deal would help ease passport queues at airports but do little to speed up border crossing checks at the port cities of Dover or Folkestone, where travellers have endured long delays to catch ferries.

French police at the Port of Dover and at Eurotunnel in Folkestone will still need to physically check stamps on passports to ensure compliance with post-Brexit limits on the number of days British tourists are eligible to stay in EU countries on the continent.

Eurotunnel and the ports have been more concerned, however, about the introduction of new rules in Europe which will require facial scanning of passport holders, already used in many airports.

They fear this will cause chronic queueing on the roads leading to the ports, as it will require drivers and each passenger to get out of their car to be scanned.

Under EU plans due to be implemented in 2024, citizens from the UK and other third-country nationals could have their biometric data taken to obtain a visa waiver, but the British government is worried this will not end delays and is looking for full access to the bloc’s eGates.

The EU plans to introduce two separate but related entry/exit systems later this year and in 2024.

Online Biometrics Learning Tool Launched

A new online course has been introduced by the Biometrics Institute for people interested in the ethics and good practices that should go into implementing a biometric system.

The Biometrics Institute describes its new Biometrics Essentials course ¹ as a learning tool for people in a wide range of public and private sector fields, as well as those interested in pursuing a career in biometrics. Course material is based on the Institute’s Good Practice Framework.

The mission of the Institute is to promote the responsible, ethical and effective use of biometrics and related technologies that respect the Institute’s ethical guidance as an independent and impartial international forum for biometric users and other interested parties.

The Biometrics Essentials course takes approximately an hour to complete, is free and available to all, and participants who complete the course are granted a certificate.

The course takes the form of a hypothetical scenario in which the participant plays the part of an individual making public policy decisions. The scenario involves a fact-finding mission in response to a public relations emergency, as depicted by animated characters that look like Lego.

In the course of this scenario, basic concepts in biometrics, such as the distinction between verification and identification, are introduced.

‘Over the past 21 years, we have been providing better education on biometrics,’ said Isabelle Moeller, Chief Executive Officer of the Biometrics Institute. ‘With the rapid growth and adoption of biometrics in various industries, it is more important than ever for users, suppliers and others considering the implementation of biometrics to have a strong understanding of this technology.’ 

1 - www.biometricsinstitute.org/biometrics-essentials-learning-tool/