India’s Supreme Court ruled that the country's controversial biometric identity scheme, the world's largest, is constitutional and does not violate the right to privacy.

The court however curtailed the scope of the Aadhaar identification scheme, declaring that it would no longer be required to open bank accounts, obtain mobile telephone connections, admission to schools.

It also cautioned the government and state-run organisations against denying citizens state benefits, like subsidised food grain, for lack of an Aadhaar identity.

Presently, an Aadhaar card is mandatory for all Indians to secure all such services.

Responding to 30 petitioners who claimed that the identity card scheme infringed on individual privacy, the court also proscribed sharing of Aadhaar data by government agencies for national security purposes.