NEWS

• The Karnataka government has drafted legislation to give statutory backing to Kutumba, the state’s family-based social registry.
• The initiative aims to streamline delivery of welfare schemes by using a unique Kutumba identification number for every household.

WHAT IS KUTUMBA?

• A social registry designed to consolidate:
  • Household-level demographic information
  • Caste, income, landholding and other eligibility-linked data
• Launched initially as a pilot in August 2019 (Srirangapatna, Mandya).
• Expanded statewide in May 2020 following successful results.

KEY FEATURES OF THE KUTUMBA BILL 2025

Statutory Status

• The Bill establishes the Karnataka Kutumba (Access and Management) Authority.
• Authority chaired by the Chief Secretary, empowered to:
  • Manage the registry
  • Acquire and hold property
  • Ensure data security and confidentiality

Kutumba ID

• Every resident family is entitled to a Kutumba number after submitting prescribed details and photographs.
• Kutumba ID enables the government to fetch citizen data without documents, easing eligibility verification.

PURPOSE AND GOVERNANCE UTILITY

Improved Service Delivery

• Government may mandate Kutumba ID for:
  • Subsidies
  • Benefits
  • Certificates, licences, and permits
  • Disaster management
  • Evidence-based planning

Citizen Rights Over Data

• Kutumba number holders have the right to know:
  • Whether their data is being processed
  • Purpose of processing
  • Summary of data stored
  • Government agencies with whom data is shared

ELIGIBILITY AND EXCEPTIONS

• Kutumba ID can be made compulsory for determining eligibility.
• If an eligible individual does not possess a Kutumba ID, their data may be verified separately—potentially with an additional fee.

BACKGROUND

• Earlier attempts in 2022 by the Bommai government aimed to draft similar legislation, with support from Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy.