A Case for Voluntary Aadhaar KYC
In the last 15 years, since the first Aadhaar number was issued in 2010, 'Aadhaar' and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) have progressed significantly.
Key milestones include:
- over 142 crore Aadhaar card holders as of Aug 2025
- UIDAI's independent status under the Aadhaar Act 2016
- Aadhaar's role in the JAM trinity and as a poster child for digital public infrastructure
These signs indicate growth and stability.
Author's summary: Keeping Aadhaar as a voluntary KYC document is a viable option.