<h1>Centralized citizen database portal for scheme eligibility raises data protection, accuracy, due process and liability concerns</h1> A state government is launching a centralized portal consolidating multiple personal databases to identify citizens' eligibility for schemes by caste, gender, income, disability and geography. The system aims to streamline scheme administration, planning, budgeting and direct benefit transfers while reducing duplicate or ineligible disbursements. Legal issues include compliance with data-protection and privacy laws, secure handling of sensitive categories, accuracy and due process in eligibility determinations, remedies for wrongful exclusion or inclusion, auditability of automated matches, and liability for erroneous payments or failures to recover funds. Drafting clear governance, retention and redress mechanisms will be critical.