Source: The post India’s PAN 2.0 project has been created, based on the article “PAN 2.0 must aim to end fraud via impersonation” published in “Live Mint” on 28th November 2024
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper2- Governance-Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Context: The article discusses India’s PAN 2.0 project, aimed at unifying platforms for PAN-related services into one. It highlights benefits like reduced confusion, enhanced security, and fraud prevention. It also stresses ensuring ease of use and preventing misuse of PAN details.
For detailed information on PAN 2.0 Project
What are the current challenges of PAN Cards?
- Multiple Platforms: Taxpayers face confusion due to three separate platforms for PAN-related services (UTIITSL, Protean e-Gov, and the e-filing portal).
- Fraud and Misuse: PAN details are often misused for loans and credit cards by fraudsters, causing identity theft issues.
- Weak Data Security: Private services, like furniture rental apps, collect PAN details, leading to risks of data breaches.
- Volume Challenges: Over 780 million PANs and 1.4 billion Aadhaar IDs make ensuring 100% security difficult.
- Inadequate Protections: QR codes on PAN cards help but are not fully effective in preventing misuse.
What is the PAN 2.0 Project?
- The PAN 2.0 project is an initiative by India’s Income Tax Department to unify and streamline all PAN-related services.
- It aims to integrate three platforms: UTIITSL (for new applications), Protean e-Gov, and the e-filing portal.
- PAN 2.0 cards look high- tech, like our Aadhaar cards, which not only have QR codes but are linked to back-end data- bases that embed biometric details.
- It addresses fraud risks, such as misuse of PAN for loans or credit cards, which occur due to weakly regulated services and data leaks.
Conclusion
PAN 2.0 has the potential to ensure ease of use and prevent misuse, creating a more efficient and secure system for taxpayers. It is a much-needed step in India’s digital governance.
Question for practice:
Discuss how the PAN 2.0 project addresses the current challenges associated with PAN cards in India.
