this is a great idea to bring the format of Bio PAN Cards. this will be a very secured process for the growing techniques for duplicity and cyber crime. I'm truly very eager for this new innovation.

Steps taken by the Finance Ministry in terms of formation of TIN and privatization of PAN application is worth appeciation. Biometric PAN card will help definitely avoid duplicate PAN cases and we must all welcome the decision. All must also ensure that instead of relying on Agents who charge anywhere between 300 to 500 for current PAN application, they should apply through valid TIN Facilitatuion centers and report to NSDL if TIN-FCs demand more than the published charges.

I request & reteirate that its high time that the policy makers should sit together to form a uniform policy for all accessed needs. Each time we do a separate thing we are just raising the cost of our national expenditure. Lets generate a base data that is required by all departments at one go and then work in a unified way by segregating the responsibilities to various agencies and patrons. At present every one is cooking his or her food and we are unable to feel the impact of all great work done. I have developed a Project HEAD- on Health, Education & Development that has been appreciated from different persons and i request all, the Planning Commission, Govt., International and National NGOs and Business Tycoons, make this dream a reality together.

Dr Binayak Kumar Jha
drbinayak@yahooo.co.in
Mobile: 91 98290 99415

I found a link to this article:

Government to shortly launch ‘Biometric Smart PAN Cards’ for Tax Payers
Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has informed that soon biometric smart Permanent Account Number (PAN) cards may be issued to reduce chances of duplication and to ensure better tax compliance.

The move to introduce new PAN cards has been prompted not just by recent incidents of issue of fake cards but also terrorism threat.

The Indian government fears that PAN cards could be an easy tool for terrorists to open bank accounts to finance their activities.

According to estimates, around 15 lakh of the total four crore PAN cards issued are duplicated by providing wrong information about their home address or even by furnishing ‘different names in the column of father’s name’ to get two or three PAN cards.

Further, the finance minister stated that the bids would soon be invited by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) in this regard to issue PAN cards with biometric features.

The biometric PAN card would use iris scan for identification, which means that the concerned person has to provide his fingerprint or iris / retina impression.

Currently, a PAN card costs about Rs 70. A biometric PAN card, however, will cost anywhere between Rs 200 to Rs 300.

The proposed biometric cards would be introduced only for new applicants while "old PAN cards will still be valid for income tax payers.
http://www.topnews.in/government-shortly-launch-biometric-smart-pan-card...

Dear Mr.Chidambaram,
I have respect for you and I know you personally some years before.When you have become the Finance Minister I was very happy and expected justice to the common man.But now I have a heavy heart because you could not deliver except heavy inflation that made the common mans life very very difficult.This is because you are allowing the economic foul players and black marmeters, corrupt officials and politicians to exploit and amass wealth and also spoil the future of Congress Party in the next election.
It is high time that you must make a soul search for the benfit of the commonman of India.
Thanks a lot
S.A.Rahim

Our Finance Minister is very fond of making statements. For example after becoming the Finance Minister for second time he has disclosed a number of times that a new Income-tax Code is being prepared and it will be made effective w.e.f 1.4.2008 but till today there is no sign of such a new Income-tax Code.
Now he has made a statement that new Biometric PAN Cards will be issued soon but, according to him, its details and features are being worked out. There are a number of other statements also made by him. When the Bill or Cards are not ready why not keep quite and why unnecessary statements are being issued by him. Issuing statements time and again on a particular work like new Income Tax Act or Biometric Cards when these are not yet ready, simply lowers the image of the FM.

S.C. Aggarwal,

It should be remembered that "the poor" citizens of India do not apply for or hold PAN cards. They don't file income tax returns. As of now, broadly speaking, only persons with more than Rs 200,000 per annum will worry about PAN cards. That is way above the poverty line. We should appreciate a progressive measure instead of dragging the "poor man" into each and every policy intervention.

Dear Binoy,
rupees 300/- is not a significant amount for Income tax payers. Infact it should be issued for all citizens(free ofcourse), compulsorily for the sake of security of nation.

The finanace minister is in another orbit...he does not understand common man & hence rs 200 is small....
The real problem lies in undeclared financial deals in property, shares and similar other businesses.
In case he can clamp on these, the revenue recovery will be at least double....
In fact he should waive all fomalities for upto 5 lacs which will reduce major part of the work load and will not matter as revenue.
But congress has only such people who exploit the paying common man....

Does the high cost justify the measure? Rs 200 or 300 may not be much for many, but it is a significant amount for the poor.