What is Aadhaar?
Aadhaar is a 12-digit identity number issued to residents of India, linked to their fingerprints, iris scans and a photograph. The project began in 2009, led by Nandan Nilekani, and has since enrolled the vast majority of India's population.
Before it, many people had no reliable proof of identity, which made it hard to open a bank account or claim government support. Welfare could also leak: money or grain meant for real people went to fake or duplicate names.
How it changed welfare
Linked to bank accounts and mobile phones, Aadhaar allowed governments to send subsidies and payments directly to people, instead of through layers of officials. Dr. Singh, who reported on the project from its early days, describes how this changed welfare delivery and why it was introduced gradually rather than all at once.
The debate
- Welfare
The case for
Payments go straight to the person, cutting out fake names and middlemen.
The concerns
When fingerprints fail or networks go down, genuine people can be denied food or payments.
- Inclusion
The case for
Millions gained a recognised identity for the first time.
The concerns
Those who struggle to enrol or update details, often the poorest, can be left out.
- Privacy
The case for
Only limited information is shared when a number is verified.
The concerns
Linking many services to one number could make it easier to track people.
- Power
The case for
Makes the state more efficient at helping citizens.
The concerns
Makes the state more powerful, so strong checks and accountability matter.
In 2017 India's Supreme Court recognised privacy as a fundamental right, and in 2018 it upheld Aadhaar while limiting where it could be required. The debate about how far it should reach continues.
Decide for yourself
- Is a system that helps most people but wrongly excludes a few acceptable? How few is few enough?
- Should a digital ID be compulsory for receiving welfare? Why or why not?
- What checks would you want in place before giving a government more information about its citizens?