UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer will examine India’s landmark digital identification system during his visit to Mumbai this week, as part of efforts to explore how the United Kingdom can modernise its own public service infrastructure. The visit underscores growing interest among Western governments in India’s digital transformation, which has connected over a billion citizens through a single national platform.
Learning from a digital revolution
India’s Aadhaar system, launched in 2009, assigns each citizen a unique 12-digit identity number linked to biometric and demographic data. It has become a cornerstone of India’s digital public infrastructure, enabling access to welfare benefits, healthcare, financial services, and tax systems. Starmer is expected to meet with officials and technology leaders behind the project to understand how similar principles could be applied to streamline identity verification and public administration in the UK.
Strengthening UK-India cooperation
The visit also carries a diplomatic dimension, as London seeks to deepen economic and technological ties with New Delhi. Talks are expected to include data governance, digital inclusion, and cybersecurity — key issues for both countries as they develop frameworks for safe and equitable digital systems. The trip follows renewed discussions over a potential UK-India free trade agreement, with technology collaboration emerging as a central theme.
Balancing innovation and privacy
Observers note that while India’s Aadhaar has been praised for efficiency and cost savings, it has also faced criticism over data security and privacy safeguards. UK officials travelling with the prime minister are said to be particularly interested in how India manages large-scale data protection while maintaining accessibility across vast populations. The British government is currently assessing ways to simplify identification for services such as healthcare, benefits, and taxation without compromising privacy rights.
A model for digital inclusion
Starmer’s focus on India’s digital ID network highlights a broader recognition of how emerging economies have pioneered scalable, low-cost solutions to social and administrative challenges. Analysts suggest that insights from India could inform future UK initiatives aimed at building a more integrated and inclusive digital government framework.
Newshub Editorial in Asia – 9 October 2025
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