No act or proceeding of the Governing Body shall be invalid merely by reason of existence of any vacancy therein or of any defect in appointments of any of its members.

Powers & Functions of Governing Body

1. (1) The Governing Body shall be the supreme policy-making authority of the Authority and shall exercise such powers and perform such functions as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.
2. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, the Governing Body shall have the following powers:-
   • (a) to lay down the outlook, objectives and long-term strategy of the Authority;
   • (b) to prepare policies, procedures, technology and systems relating to the creation, maintenance, update, integration and use of the Unified Family Data Repository;
   • (c) to prepare the policy, procedure for generating and issuing Devbhoomi Parivar ID to families
   • (d) deactivating the Devbhoomi Parivar ID & information relating thereto in such cases & in such manner, as may be specified by notifications.
   • (e) to collect, update, manage and maintain information of the family and its members in the form of specified data fields and develop and implement mechanisms, processes and systems for authenticating or verifying such information.
   • (f) to direct the Government department concerned or Government agency or local agency/local authority to define procedures, technology and data standards to enable the integration of the database maintained and held by the Authority with that of the department or agency of the State Government providing such benefit, subsidy, scheme or service which is notified under section 10 of this Act
   • (g) to specify the manner, data standards, technology systems and related processes for use of Devbhoomi Parivar ID and the information contained in the Unified Family Data Repository for the purpose of determining eligibility for or the provision of any scheme, subsidy or benefit provided or implemented by or on behalf of the State Government or any Government agency or local agency/local authority and other purposes for which the Devbhoomi Parivar ID may be used.
   • (h) to approve inclusion of departments, schemes or use cases for utilisation of the Unified Family Data Repository in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
     • (i) such other powers and functions, as may be prescribed.
3. (3) The Governing Body shall:-
   • (a) have the power to appoint, constitute, reconstitute or dissolve such committees, as may be necessary to assist the Authority to discharge its functions for the purposes of this Act and to approve the powers delegated to such committees;
   • (b) review the functioning and performance of such committees and issue policy directions consistent with this Act;
   • (c) recommend the organisational structure, posts, and service rules for the employees of the Authority for the approval of the State Government.
4. (4) The Governing Body shall:-
   • (a) approve or amend the annual budget, revised estimates and long-term financial plans of the Authority;
   • (b) approve receipt of grants, aids, contributions or any other financial assistance from the State Government, or any other lawful source;
   • (c) approve major expenditures and financial commitments beyond such limits as may be prescribed;
   • (d) approve the annual accounts and audit reports of the Authority.
5. (5) The Governing Body shall:-
   • (a) approve frameworks for integration and interoperability of the Unified Family Data Repository with databases of other departments of the State Government or the Central Government;
   • (b) approve the data privacy and data security policies for maintaining the resident data in the Unified Family Data Repository;
   • (c) approve memoranda of understanding or agreements with government entities for lawful exchange or use of data;
   • (d) promote convergence of welfare schemes and subsidies through Devbhoomi Parivar.
6. (6) The Governing Body shall ensure integration and updation of the Unified Family Data Repository with data on births, deaths and marriages maintained by the competent authorities under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (Act 18 of 1969) and Uniform Civil Code Uttarakhand, 2024.
7. (7) The Authority shall support the State Government or local agency/local authority by providing data analytics in relation to the information held by it so as to enable the State Government or local agency/local authority to formulate and implement policies, schemes, services, benefits or subsidies for the welfare of the people of the State of Uttarakhand.
8. (8) The Governing Body shall:-
   • (a) review periodic performance and outcome indicators of the Authority;
   • (b) ensure that the database is utilised strictly for purposes authorised under this Act;
   • (c) order special reviews, inspections or audits, including third-party audits, relating to data quality, security or compliance.