New Delhi, Aug 3 - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Monday constituted a council under his chairmanship to advice the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and ensure better coordination between ministries, stakeholders and partners.

'The council is expected to advice the UIDAI on the programme, methodology and implementation to ensure coordination between ministries, departments, stakeholders and partners,' said a release from the Prime Minister's Office.

It will also identify specific milestones for early completion of the project.

Nandan Nilekani, the 54-year-old co-founder of Infosys Technologies, took charge as the chairman of the UIDAI last month and started work on the government's ambitious project to provide a single identity number and card to each of the country's 1.17 billion people.

The main task of the authority would be to create a database that will help in issuing unique identity cards.

Members of the newly appointed council are Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Agriculture, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sharad Pawar, Home Minister P.