Professor Edgar Whitley, London School of Economics (LSE) spoke in TISS on the UID scheme proposed in India with biometric data. Prof. Whitley was the lead author of the LSE report that showed that a nation-wide biometric scheme would not be feasible, would have huge costs and create risks of identity thefts. The LSE Report contributed to the UK project being finally dropped. He examines the basis of such UID projects and questions their techno-economic viability, apart from their dangers for privacy. (Part 1 Lecture in TISS)