AADHAAR Paperback

"Aadhaar: A Biometric History of India's 12-Digit Revolution" by Shankkar Aiyar offers a detailed and insightful chronicle of the ambitious and often controversial Aadhaar project. The book traces the origins and evolution of this unique biometric identification system, from its conception in 2009 by Nandan Nilekani and his team to its widespread implementation across India. Aiyar meticulously documents how politicians of opposing ideologies embraced Aadhaar, exploring its intended purpose of streamlining subsidies and combating corruption, as well as its expanded applications. He delves into the project's successes and challenges, the concerns raised by activists regarding data privacy and potential misuse, and the ongoing debate surrounding the urgent need for a robust data protection and privacy law, ultimately providing a comprehensive overview of how Aadhaar has fundamentally reshaped India's political and economic landscape.