UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai yesterday and met Nandan Nilekani, the co-founder of Infosys and chairman of India’s Aadhaar project. His main goal was to learn from India’s digital ID system as the UK plans to introduce a similar model.
Starmer clarified that the meeting was not about any business deal with Infosys. Instead, the UK wants to build its own digital ID system. He praised India’s success with Aadhaar and said Britain could benefit from a simpler and more secure way to prove identity. “It’s frustrating to keep searching for bills or documents for simple applications like school admissions,” he said.
Last month, Starmer announced that British citizens and permanent residents will soon need a mandatory digital ID to work in the UK. He believes it will help control illegal immigration and make it easier to access healthcare, welfare, and public services.
Critics, however, warn that such a system could threaten privacy and freedom. Britain has not used compulsory ID cards since World War II, and previous efforts—like Tony Blair’s biometric ID plan—failed due to public resistance.
