Delhi Govt Proposes Parivar Pehchan Act to Introduce Single Family ID Cards
The Delhi government is working on a legal framework to establish, manage, and maintain a centralised family database under proposed legislation titled the Delhi Parivar Pehchan Act, 2026. The planned single family identification card aims to streamline welfare scheme delivery and public services across the Capital, officials aware of the development said on Monday.
The government is currently examining the technological architecture required for data collection, authentication, verification, updating, and controlled information-sharing between departments. The proposed legislation may include safeguards governing data security, privacy, and departmental access, while establishing mechanisms for citizens to view and correct their details and setting accountability for unauthorised data use.
Officials noted that the proposal remains in the examination stage, and the final structure of the legislation, the regulatory authority, and the exact contours of the card are yet to be finalised.
To facilitate and monitor the rollout, the government is considering creating the Delhi Parivar Pehchan Authority. The authority is likely to be headed by the Chief Minister as chairperson, supported by a Chief Executive Officer of Indian Administrative Service (IAS) rank, alongside officials from the revenue, finance, and information technology departments. An executive committee comprising officials and experts is also being considered to frame operational procedures and oversee implementation.
The proposed authority would manage mechanisms to record changes in family circumstances, such as births, deaths, marriages, and shifts in address or residential status. The system would also link with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) database to track demographic changes.
According to officials, the database aims to improve beneficiary identification, enable targeted delivery of subsidies, and cover families eligible for multiple schemes who are currently excluded due to gaps in existing records. The card is envisaged to offer single-point access to welfare programmes ranging from Ayushman Bharat Yojana to Delhi Lakhpati Bitiya Yojana.
Delhi officials have studied Haryana's Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) as a model, visiting the neighbouring state to assess the administrative, legal, and technical systems involved. If launched, the Aadhaar-linked card is likely to be issued in the name of the eldest woman in the family. It will be open to all families in Delhi regardless of income and is not expected to be mandatory initially.
