100 mn Aadhaar numbers linked to bank accounts: UIDAI

New Delhi, Dec 15: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) Monday said 10 crore (100 million) Aadhaar numbers have so far been linked to bank accounts. "A major milestone in government's digital India mission has been crossed with 10 crore Aadhaar numbers having been linked to bank accounts of the holders, enabling these individuals to digitally receive government welfare subsidies and other payments directly into their bank accounts," an UIDAI statement said Monday. Linking an Aadhaar number with a bank account makes it easy for the government to identify genuine beneficiaries and make welfare payments and subsidies directly into their bank accounts, it said. Issuance of Aadhaars crossed 720 million as on Dec 12, it said, adding that over 100 million Aadhaar numbers have been generated in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh.