The bill that seeks to provide statutory status to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will be introduced in the winter session of the Parliament next month.

“...All necessary steps have been taken for introduction of the National Identification Authority of India Bill, 2013 in the winter session of Parliament likely to commence from the 1st week of the next month,” Planning Commission said in a statement.

According to the press release, the Union Cabinet has already approved the proposal submitted by the Ministry of Planning for moving official amendments to the bill last month.

The government had introduced the National Identification Authority of India Bill 2010, in December 2010.

The Lok Sabha Speaker, in consultation with the Rajya Sabha Chairman, had referred the bill to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance.

The committee presented its report to the Lok Sabha and tabled it in the Rajya Sabha on December 13, 2011.

In the meantime, the Unique Identification Authority of India has been functioning under an executive order issued by the government in January 2009.

The bill proposes to constitute a statutory authority to be called the National Identification Authority of India and lay down the powers and functions of the Authority, the framework for issuing Aadhaar numbers, defines offences and penalties and matters incidental thereto through an Act of Parliament.

The authority has so far issued more than 47 crore Aadhaar numbers.