Mumbai : Following his recent visit to Mumbai, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer praised India’s Aadhaar digital biometric ID system as a massive success and is considering it as a model for the UK’s planned digital identity programme, the Brit Card. Starmer met with key figures, including Nandan Nilekani, co-founder of Infosys and a leading figure in conceptualising Aadhaar, to discuss the rapid rollout and impact of India’s extensive digital ID programme.
Critics in India have pointed to data protection issues and reports of people being denied benefits or services due to lack of ID. Despite this, the system is credited with saving the Indian economy billions in administrative costs and corruption, the report also said. A UK government spokesperson stressed that while the proposal draws lessons from India’s experience, it will have a different design and will not include biometric data, The Guardian reported.
While travelling to Mumbai, Starmer told reporters he hoped digital IDs—despite their declining popularity since his announcement—would win back public trust in the UK due to their convenience. I don’t know how many times the rest of you have had to look in the bottom drawer for three bills when you want to get your kids into school or apply for this or apply for that—it drives me to frustration, The Guardian quoted him as saying.
Addressing the contentious nature of digital IDs in the UK, Starmer said, “I do think that we could gain a significant advantage. We’re going to a country, India, where they’ve already done ID and made a massive success of it. Right-wing parties have spotlighted gig economy platforms where undocumented workers allegedly use false identities.
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