Starmer has announced plans for a UK digital ID programme, the Brit Card, inspired by India’s Aadhaar system. Unlike Aadhaar, the Brit Card will not use biometric data and will initially focus on preventing illegal migrant employment.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called India’s Aadhaar digital ID a “massive success,” has announced plans for a similar programme in the UK, the Brit Card, drawing lessons from India’s experience while adapting it for British needs.
Unlike Aadhaar, the Brit Card will not use biometric data and will initially focus on curbing illegal migrant employment. Starmer met Nandan Nilekani, Infosys co-founder and a key architect of Aadhaar, during his recent two-day visit to Mumbai to understand how India scaled the system to benefit nearly 1.4 billion citizens. Aadhaar assigns a unique 12-digit biometric ID to residents, simplifying access to welfare, banking, and other services, and reportedly saving India billions in administrative costs.
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“I don’t know how many times the rest of you have had to look in the bottom drawer for three bills when you want to get your kids into school or apply for this or apply for that—it drives me to frustration,” Starmer told reporters, highlighting the convenience a digital ID could provide.
He also linked the Brit Card to immigration enforcement, saying it would help tackle i