https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/14/india-id-system-divide-opinion
Having failed to cover PM Keir Starmers visit to India in any meaningful way Guardian’s Hannah has picked on the Aadhaar Card which Starmer has described as a great success.
Hannah is not interested in the massive success of Starmers visit to India. Here are the results of the visit:
1 A £350 million deal to supply India with Defence Missiles and Launchers. It will save 10,600 jobs in Northern Ireland.
2 UK-India defence collaboration on Electric powered engines for Naval Ships.
3 Massive collaboration on AI.
4 Collaboration on Critical Minerals processing.
5 Collaboration on Biotechnology.
6 Collaboration between the two countries in the Air Force and the Navy.
7 At least 2 UK Universities to set up Campus in India.
8 64 Indian companies will be investing £1.3 Billion in the UK.
Keir Starmer had brought along with him 120 Chief Executives, Cultural leaders and Vice Chancellors to India. That is an indication of the importance of India to the British government.
Hannah reminds us that when India hosted the G20 Summit in 2023 Modi cited Aadhaar as one of the key successes of a, ” Digital India”( Hannah’s inverted commas) and she added Modi claimed India had become an, “Incubator of Innovation”, ( her inverted commas).
Hannah admits that before the Aadhaar card 400 million Indian’s had no form of official 1D and did not have any access to Banks. However Hannah alleges that some of the poorest and illiterate have been unable to get welfare payment or work because they have not been able to get the Aadhaar card. Hannah gives an example which actually contradicts her assertion. She mentions a Alam Khan an illiterate labourer whose bag containing ID documents and Aadhaar card were stolen. So this illiterate man did manage to get his Aadhaar card Hannah? However if you are a illegal immigrant you will not get a Aadhaar card Hannah. Hannah then expresses fear of losing privacy and possible misuse of sensitive personal data. According to the Indian government the core information in the Aadhaar card has never been breached. And those without a Aadhaar card cannot be denied services.
Perhaps Hannah is displeased because UK is looking at an Indian idea to learn from. This is going to happen a lot more as India scales new heights. Just look at the Indian origin CEO ‘s of the Google and other mega companies Hannah. You will realise that under the leadership of Modi India is a hub of innovation. Sorry to be the harbinger of bad news Hannah.
Nitin Mehta
14 October 2025
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