On 28 January 2009, the Government of India constituted the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) through a Gazette notification. The main aim was to "generate and assign UID to residents", where UID refers to "Unique Identity". The brand name "Aadhaar" (meaning "foundation" in some...

There has been a major expansion of social security programmes in India during the last fifteen years or so, along with wider recognition of economic and social rights. This paper discusses five programmes of interest: school meals, child care services, employment guarantee, food subsidies and...

This paper presents a broad-brush assessment of the public distribution system in six of India's poorest states soon after the National Food Security Act came into force. Important gains have been made, including broader coverage, lower targeting errors, accelerated PDS reforms, and greater...