Hyderabad: The Telugu states are toppers in Aadhaar coverage in the country. While Telangana stood second with 99.1 per cent Aadhaar enrolment, AP is third with 93.6 per cent enrolment. Both TS and AP are way ahead of the All India average enrolment of 71.9 per cent. Interestingly, Delhi secured first rank with an enrolment of 105.7 per cent, more than its population. In TS, out of its 3,72,53,813 population, Aadhaar has been issued to 3,69,14,985 as on September 30, 2015.
In AP, out of a population of 5,22,29,924, Aadhaar has been issued to 4,89,09,192 as on September 30, 2015. Out of 36 states/UTs only nine have achieved 90 per cent and above enrolment. While Delhi has a population of 1,77,20,573 data shows that Aadhaar cards were issued to 1,87,31,599, which is 5.7 per cent more.
The Aadhaar card scheme launched by the UPA government continues to assume significant even under the NDA government despite the Supreme Court order that Aadhaar should not be mandatory for citizens and it should be only 'optional'.
In August, the SC directed the government that an Aadhaar card should not be used for any purpose other than PDS scheme, particularly for distribution of foodgrains and cooking fuel like kerosene. It can also be used for the LPG distribution scheme