Apart from a financial audit, the Aadhaar Act fails to prescribe any ex-ante or ex-post accountability mechanisms

Shankkar Aiyar’s book opens by offering a peep into the bureaucratic backrooms in the days and months that led up to the birth of Aadhaar in 2009.

The definitive story of unique identity project Aadhaar, from when it was a mere idea to a day when it has 1.5 billion enrollments.

An identification number was the only way to make government spending on citizen welfare “more efficient” and ensure the benefits reach the “right people”.

Nandan Nilekani, former UIDAI chairman talks about how Indians are on the cusp of a similar transformation in banking and payments. He uses the example of IDFC bank as a private player who is leveraging Aadhar for secure financial transactions

Nandan Nilekani asks: "Why deny the Indian state the use of Aadhaar for efficient and effective subsidy-targeting and providing conveniences to its people, as long as the use of Aadhaar is voluntary?"