Leveraging Unique Identification (UID) for Mobile Banking in India

by Akhand Tiwari, Anurodh Giri and Priyank Mishra
May 30, 2011
1 min

This Note takes a closer look at how UID can make m-banking more accessible in India.

Among various expected benefits of the Unique Identification (UID) card, one is supporting the financial inclusion agenda in India – by providing everyone with a UID card linked to a mobile phone number, and/or linked to a bank account. Financial inclusion has many hurdles in India, but the two of the most troubling of them to regulators and customers are: 1) authentication of individuals without a fixed address or formal documentation; and 2) secure access to banking services in remote areas. This Note takes a closer look at how UID can make m-banking more accessible in India. It concludes that UID can play a big role in proliferation of m-banking and financial inclusion in India. The success (or failure) of the UID will lie in its ability to provide a secure, safe and accessible platform for m-banking on the basis of its identity database.