Get a biometric PAN Card

Get a Biometric PAN Card

What is it? A biometric Permanent Account Number (PAN) card that the Ministry of Finance plans to launch, over time, to replace the PAN card that you currently have.

How does it work? These smart PAN cards validate the identity of a person by checking the intrinsic physical or behavioural traits of that person. These traits include fingerprint impressions, or scans of the iris or retina of a person. Other commonly used traits include hand geometry, voice recognition and signature.

How will it be useful? Biometric smart cards reduce the chances of duplication since the biometric identification parameter is unique to each individual. These traits cannot be forged, misplaced or lost. Hence, biometric PAN cards are expected to lead to better tax compliance.

What are the cost implications? According to Income Tax Department officials, a biometric PAN card could cost Rs 200-300 compared to around Rs 70 for the plain vanilla ones in existence at present.

When will it be launched? Though no time frame has been fixed, the biometric PAN cards are expected to be launched shortly. Existing cardholders will then be encouraged to switch to the biometric cards.

Now, a Google that Saves Power

What is it? It is a "Black" version of the Google homepage, called Blackle.

Why? The theory is that a black screen saves a minuscule amount of energy compared to a white page.

Is it a large saving? Yes. Some people claim that an "all-black" Google will save a massive 750 megawatt-hours a year. This has not been independently verified.

Wow, but is it any good? It uses the Google engine, so the search results are the same.

And the contrast? Good, but a black-on-white page is still far easier to read. And with Google integrating its search into all the new browsers, many people don't actually visit Google's homepage anymore.

(With Kushan Mitra)