Starmer discusses UK biometric ID plan inspired by Aadhaar

Prime Minister Keir Starmer met Nandan Nilekani in Mumbai on Wednesday as he presses ahead with a proposed national digital identity scheme that the government has said will be mandatory to prove the right to work by 2029 and optional for other services. The meeting, during a two day trade visit to India, was intended to allow ministers to learn from the implementation of Aadhaar, India’s biometric Unique ID system, as the UK develops a smartphone‑based identity platform.

The government says the scheme will create a universal form of identification stored on mobile phones, usable to access public services and to verify eligibility for work and rental accommodation. Officials argue it could streamline administration, reduce paperwork and waiting times, lower fraud and cut costs by replacing the current patchwork of documents such as driving licences, national insurance records and utility bills. The plan would require primary legislation and a timetable set by ministers anticipates mandatory use for employment checks by 2029, with wider use voluntary.

Starmer told reporters the measure is important to tackle illegal working, saying "We need to address the fact that too many...