What's happened
On October 8-9, 2025, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited Mumbai to study India’s Aadhaar digital ID system, aiming to inform the UK’s planned “Brit Card” digital ID rollout by 2029. Starmer praised India’s system as a “massive success” despite privacy concerns and data leaks. The UK’s system will be narrower, focusing on employment verification to combat illegal work, with biometric data excluded.
What's behind the headline?
India's Aadhaar: A Double-Edged Sword
India’s Aadhaar system is a pioneering digital ID platform that has transformed bureaucratic processes by replacing paper documentation with a biometric-based 12-digit number. It has streamlined access to government benefits, banking, and services for over a billion people, saving billions in administrative costs and reducing fraud.
UK’s Digital ID Ambitions
Starmer’s visit to Mumbai signals the UK’s intent to adopt a digital ID system, the “Brit Card,” focusing initially on mandatory employment verification to curb illegal work. Unlike Aadhaar, the UK system will exclude biometric data, aiming to avoid privacy pitfalls.
Privacy and Inclusion Challenges
Despite Aadhaar’s scale and efficiency, it has faced criticism for data breaches, lack of robust privacy laws, and exclusion of vulnerable populations unable to obtain IDs, leading to denial of essential services. The UK faces similar public resistance, with over 2 million signing a petition against digital IDs citing surveillance fears.
Political and Social Implications
The UK government’s push for digital ID is politically charged, tied to immigration control and public service reform. Opposition parties and rights groups warn of risks to civil liberties and social equity. Starmer’s engagement with Indian experts like Nandan Nilekani reflects a desire to learn from India’s successes and failures.
Forecast
The UK’s digital ID rollout will likely proceed cautiously, balancing security and convenience against privacy and inclusion concerns. Lessons from Aadhaar’s implementation will shape policy design, but public trust remains a critical hurdle. The system’s success will depend on transparent governance, strong data protection, and addressing exclusion risks.
What the papers say
Jessica Elgot in The Guardian highlights Starmer’s praise for Aadhaar as a “massive success” and notes the system’s role in cutting bureaucracy and saving billions, but also acknowledges controversies over data privacy and exclusion of minorities. Hannah Ellis-Petersen, also in The Guardian, provides a detailed account of Aadhaar’s ubiquity in Indian life and the criticisms from digital rights activists about exclusion and data breaches, emphasizing the system’s dual nature.
Al Jazeera reports on Starmer’s visit and the UK’s plans for the “Brit Card,” noting the public backlash and privacy concerns, contrasting the UK’s narrower biometric-free approach with India’s extensive data collection. The Independent’s Kate Devlin covers the political context in the UK, including opposition from parties and rights groups, and Starmer’s framing of digital ID as essential for tackling illegal work.
The Mirror adds color to Starmer’s visit with details of his meetings and public reception in Mumbai, while also noting the dip in UK public support since the announcement. Bloomberg and The Japan Times focus on Starmer’s meeting with Nandan Nilekani, underscoring the UK government’s intent to learn from India’s experience without commercial ties.
Together, these sources provide a comprehensive view of the digital ID debate, balancing technological innovation, political strategy, and civil liberties concerns.
How we got here
India’s Aadhaar system, launched in 2009, provides over 1.3 billion citizens with a biometric digital ID used for accessing services and benefits. The UK government plans to introduce a digital ID by 2029 to verify work eligibility and streamline access to services, prompting Starmer’s visit to learn from India’s experience amid public privacy concerns.
Go deeper
- What are the main privacy concerns with India's Aadhaar system?
- How will the UK's digital ID differ from Aadhaar?
- Why is there public opposition to digital ID cards in the UK?
Common question
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Could the UK Adopt a Digital ID System Like India’s Aadhaar?
The UK is exploring the idea of implementing a digital ID system inspired by India’s Aadhaar. This move aims to modernize public services, improve security, and tackle illegal work and migration. But what does this mean for privacy, inclusion, and everyday life in the UK? Below, we answer the most common questions about this potential shift and what it could mean for you.
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How Does India's Aadhaar System Compare to the UK's Planned Brit Card?
The UK is looking to develop a new digital ID system inspired by India's Aadhaar, which has been both praised for its scale and criticized for privacy concerns. Curious about how these systems differ, what privacy issues they raise, and whether biometric data will be involved? Below, we explore the key questions surrounding these digital identity initiatives and what they could mean for citizens in both countries.
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What Are the Biggest News Stories Today?
Stay updated with the top headlines shaping the world today. From political moves and technological advances to international incidents, these stories are worth your attention. Curious about how they connect or what they mean for the future? Keep reading for clear, concise answers to your most pressing questions.
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What is India’s Aadhaar digital ID system?
India’s Aadhaar system is one of the world’s largest biometric digital ID programs, providing over 1.3 billion citizens with a unique ID used for accessing government services, benefits, and financial transactions. Recently, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer visited India to study Aadhaar’s success and consider how a similar system could be implemented in the UK. But what exactly is Aadhaar, and how does it work? Below, we explore the key questions about India’s digital ID and its influence on other countries.
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What Makes India’s Aadhaar System So Successful?
India’s Aadhaar digital ID system has become one of the world’s largest biometric databases, providing over 1.3 billion citizens with a unique ID used for accessing government services, banking, and more. Its success lies in its widespread adoption, streamlined access, and ability to cut bureaucracy. But what exactly makes it so effective, and what lessons can other countries learn from India’s experience? Below, we explore the key factors behind Aadhaar’s success and the debates surrounding digital IDs worldwide.
More on these topics
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the second-most populous country, the seventh-largest country by land area, and the most populous democracy in the world.
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Nandan Mohanrao Nilekani is an Indian entrepreneur. He co-founded Infosys and is the non-executive chairman of Infosys replacing R Seshasayee and Ravi Venkatesan, who were the co-chairs of the board, on 24 August 2017.
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Aadhaar is a twelve-digit unique identity number that can be obtained voluntarily by all residents of India based on their biometrics and demographic data.
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The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom or Britain, is a sovereign country located off the northwestern coast of the European mainland.
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Narendra Damodardas Modi is an Indian politician serving as the 14th and current Prime Minister of India since 2014. He was the Chief Minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014, and is the Member of Parliament for Varanasi.
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Infosys Limited is an Indian multinational information technology company that provides business consulting, information technology and outsourcing services. The company was founded in Pune and is headquartered in Bangalore.