Content
- Aadhaar is the world’s largest biometric identity system with approximately 134 crore live Aadhaar holders
- Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 & power sector transformation
Aadhaar is the world’s largest biometric identity system with approximately 134 crore live Aadhaar holders
Context
- PIB (March 2026) highlights Aadhaar scale (134 crore users, 17,000+ crore authentications) and privacy safeguards, amid debates on data protection, digital identity governance, and India’s DPI global model.
Relevance
- GS 1 (Indian Society):
- Social inclusion through legal identity
- Digital divide and exclusion of vulnerable groups
- GS 2 (Polity & Governance):
- Welfare delivery reforms (DBT, JAM Trinity)
- Privacy vs State power (Article 21)
- Data protection, role of UIDAI
Practice Question
Q. “Aadhaar has enhanced governance efficiency but raises critical concerns regarding privacy and exclusion.” Critically analyse.(250 Words)
Static background
Evolution & legal basis
- Aadhaar (2009) introduced by UIDAI to provide unique identity; given statutory backing through Aadhaar Act, 2016, later refined post Puttaswamy judgment (2018) ensuring privacy safeguards.
- Supreme Court (Puttaswamy, 2018) upheld Aadhaar with restrictions, emphasising proportionality, data minimisation, and limited mandatory usage (welfare + taxation), balancing state efficiency and individual rights.
Key features
- World’s largest biometric ID system with ~134 crore Aadhaar holders, ensuring near-universal coverage and enabling identity portability across India’s federal welfare architecture.
- Uses biometric (fingerprint, iris, face) and demographic data; authentication via OTP, biometrics, demographic verification, ensuring multi-layered identity validation across governance and private services.
Institutional framework
- UIDAI (statutory authority) under MeitY regulates enrolment, authentication, and data security, acting as central regulator of India’s digital identity ecosystem.
- Entities classified as AUA/KUA must comply with Aadhaar Act provisions, undergo onboarding and audits, ensuring controlled access and accountability in authentication ecosystem.
Governance / administrative dimension
- Backbone of JAM trinity (Jan Dhan–Aadhaar–Mobile) enabling Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), reducing leakages, ghost beneficiaries, and improving targeted welfare delivery efficiency.
- Enables real-time authentication and e-KYC, reducing administrative delays, improving service delivery in banking, telecom, fintech, and enhancing ease of living and governance efficiency.
- Three-tier audit framework (Self, IS Audit, GRCP) ensures compliance, risk mitigation, and accountability among ecosystem players handling sensitive Aadhaar authentication infrastructure.
Constitutional / legal dimension
- Linked to Article 21 (Right to Privacy); Aadhaar must satisfy legality, necessity, proportionality, ensuring protection of informational self-determination and dignity of individuals.
- Aadhaar Act restrictions prohibit storage of biometrics by entities, enforce purpose limitation, consent-based usage, and controlled data sharing mechanisms.
- Convergence with Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023 strengthens consent, accountability, and data fiduciary obligations, aligning Aadhaar ecosystem with emerging global data governance standards.
Economic dimension
- DBT savings > ₹3 lakh crore (official estimates) due to elimination of duplicates and leakages, improving fiscal efficiency and subsidy targeting.
- e-KYC cost reduction (~₹100 → ₹5–10) lowered onboarding costs, boosting financial inclusion, fintech innovation, and digital economy expansion.
- Forms core of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) along with UPI, DigiLocker, positioning India as global leader in low-cost scalable digital governance systems.
Social / ethical dimension
- Enables inclusion by providing legal identity to marginalised groups, facilitating access to welfare schemes, banking, and mobile connectivity, reducing exclusion from formal systems.
- Authentication failures (biometric mismatch, connectivity) can exclude vulnerable groups like elderly and labourers, raising concerns on last-mile delivery and equity.
- Ethical risks include surveillance, profiling, and function creep, raising debate on state power vs individual autonomy in a data-driven governance ecosystem.
Technology dimension
- Face authentication (AI/ML-based) improves accessibility where fingerprints fail, especially for elderly and manual labourers, enhancing authentication success rates.
- End-to-end encryption (at rest & transit), Aadhaar Data Vault, and certified devices ensure strong data security architecture and minimal data exposure.
- Data localisation (storage within India) ensures data sovereignty, reducing risks of foreign surveillance and cross-border data misuse.
Data & facts
- ~134 crore Aadhaar holders (near-universal coverage).
- 17,000+ crore authentication transactions completed.
- DBT savings > ₹3 lakh crore.
- e-KYC cost reduced by ~90%.
Challenges / criticisms
Legal & privacy
- Concerns over centralised database enabling surveillance, lack of fully independent oversight despite audits, raising issues of accountability and transparency.
- Instances of data leaks (ecosystem-level) highlight gaps in enforcement of security standards and compliance mechanisms.
Governance & implementation
- Authentication failures due to biometric mismatch or connectivity issues leading to exclusion from welfare benefits, undermining inclusive governance objectives.
- Federal concerns regarding over-centralisation limiting state autonomy in welfare delivery design and implementation flexibility.
Ethical & social
- Risk of function creep beyond welfare into multiple sectors, potentially violating purpose limitation principle.
- Digital divide restricts access for rural, elderly, and digitally illiterate populations, creating structural inequities in service access.
Way forward
- Strengthen grievance redressal with compensation framework, ensuring no denial of benefits due to authentication failure.
- Promote offline Aadhaar, QR-based verification, Virtual ID, reducing dependency on central authentication systems and improving resilience.
- Establish independent data protection oversight authority, ensuring stronger compliance, transparency, and accountability.
- Upgrade multi-modal biometrics and AI systems to minimise exclusion errors and improve authentication reliability.
- Align with privacy-by-design principles (OECD/GDPR standards) to enhance trust and global acceptability of Aadhaar ecosystem.
Prelims pointers
- Aadhaar Act, 2016 → statutory basis.
- UIDAI → statutory authority under MeitY.
- Authentication modes → OTP, biometric, demographic.
- AUA vs KUA → authentication vs e-KYC services.
- No biometric storage by entities allowed.
- Logs retention → 2 years + 5 years archive.
Bharat Electricity Summit 2026 & power sector transformation
Context
- Bharat Electricity Summit 2026, inaugurated on 19 March 2026 at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi, by Union Power Minister Manohar Lal, marks India’s largest electricity-focused global platform with 80+ countries participation.
- Release of National Resource Adequacy Plan (2026) and Transmission Plan (CEA, 2026) targeting 900 GW non-fossil capacity by 2035–36, signals next phase of India’s energy transition strategy.
Relevance
- GS 2 (Governance):
- Electricity Act, 2003 reforms
- Centre–State coordination in power sector
- Policy initiatives (RDSS, resource adequacy planning)
- GS 3 (Economy, Environment, Infrastructure):
- Energy security and infrastructure development
- Renewable energy transition (900 GW target)
- Climate commitments (NDC, net-zero)
Practice Question
Q. “India’s ambitious renewable energy targets require deep structural reforms in the power sector.” Examine.(250 Words)
Static background
Power sector evolution
- India’s electricity sector governed by Electricity Act, 2003 (enforced 10 June 2003), enabling unbundling, competition, and independent regulation (CERC/SERCs).
- Transition from power deficit (pre-2014) to power surplus (post-2018) driven by capacity addition, renewable push, and grid integration reforms.
Energy transition commitments
- India’s Nationally Determined Contribution (updated August 2022) targets 50% cumulative installed capacity from non-fossil sources by 2030, achieved ~5 years ahead (around 2025–26).
- Net-zero commitment announced at COP26, Glasgow (November 2021), targeting net-zero emissions by 2070.
Governance / administrative dimension
- National Resource Adequacy Plan (released 19 March 2026 by Ministry of Power) provides roadmap for meeting future electricity demand through optimal mix of thermal, renewable, storage, and demand-side management.
- Transmission Plan (CEA, March 2026) envisages 1,37,500 circuit km lines + 8,27,600 MVA capacity with ₹7.93 lakh crore investment, ensuring seamless renewable integration.
- India operates world’s largest synchronised grid (One Nation One Grid, completed December 2013) with real-time balancing and national load dispatch coordination.
Economic dimension
- Power sector offers ₹200 lakh crore investment potential (2026–2047) across generation, transmission, storage, and green hydrogen, making it a major driver of economic growth.
- Solar tariffs declined from ₹17/kWh (2010) → ~₹2–2.5/kWh (2024), improving affordability and competitiveness of renewables.
- Transmission network expanded 72% (2014–2025) to 5 lakh circuit km, supporting industrialisation, urbanisation, and digital economy growth.
Technology / infrastructure dimension
- Deployment of smart meters under Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme (RDSS, launched July 2021) enhances billing efficiency, reduces losses, and enables real-time consumption monitoring.
- Integration of battery storage, pumped hydro storage, and AI-based demand forecasting ensures grid stability amid renewable intermittency.
- Initiatives like One Sun One World One Grid (announced October 2018, ISA Assembly) and undersea transmission proposals (2026) aim to position India as global energy hub.
Environmental dimension
- Target of 900 GW non-fossil capacity by 2035–36 aligns with Paris Agreement and SDG-13, reducing carbon intensity and fossil fuel dependence.
- Renewable expansion reduces air pollution and import dependence on coal/oil, improving environmental sustainability and energy security.
- Continued role of thermal power (~50% share) ensures grid reliability but raises transition trade-offs and emission concerns.
Social / inclusive dimension
- PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (launched February 2024) promotes rooftop solar adoption; 32 lakh households and 23 lakh farmers participating in decentralised energy generation.
- Reliable electricity access supports healthcare, education, livelihoods, contributing to SDG-7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and human development.
- Ensuring affordability amid infrastructure expansion is critical to avoid energy poverty and inequality in access.
Data & facts
- Solar capacity: 2.8 GW (2014) → 143+ GW (2026).
- Peak demand: 250 GW met (FY 2024–25); target 270 GW+.
- Transmission expansion: 72% → 5 lakh circuit km.
- Investment in transmission: ₹7.93 lakh crore.
- 900 GW non-fossil target by 2035–36.
Challenges / criticisms
Structural & technical
- High renewable penetration leads to grid instability risks, requiring large-scale storage and balancing infrastructure investments.
- Land acquisition and environmental approvals delay renewable parks and transmission corridors, affecting timelines.
Economic & financial
- Persistent financial stress of DISCOMs (AT&C losses ~15–20%, subsidy burden) undermines sector sustainability.
- Massive capital requirement (₹200 lakh crore) necessitates stable policies and private investment mobilisation.
Policy & governance
- Coordination challenges among Centre, States, regulators, and private sector delay implementation of reforms and projects.
- Policy uncertainty (tariffs, contracts, regulations) may deter long-term foreign investment in power sector.
Way forward
- Implement DISCOM reforms under RDSS (2021) ensuring cost-reflective tariffs, smart metering, and loss reduction.
- Scale up energy storage (battery + pumped hydro) and green hydrogen (National Green Hydrogen Mission, launched January 2023) for reliable renewable integration.
- Expand cross-border electricity trade (BBIN, BIMSTEC) and operationalise OSOWOG for global energy connectivity.
- Promote domestic manufacturing (PLI Scheme for Solar PV, launched April 2021) to reduce import dependence.
- Ensure just transition policies for coal regions, balancing employment, sustainability, and economic growth.
Prelims pointers
- Electricity Act, 2003 (10 June 2003) → key legislation.
- CEA → statutory technical body under Ministry of Power.
- NDC update (August 2022) → 50% non-fossil target.
- RDSS (2021) → DISCOM reforms + smart meters.
- PM Surya Ghar (Feb 2024) → rooftop solar scheme.
