Central government’s proposal to have the Aadhaar app pre-installed on smartphones has reportedly run into resistance from device makers and the broader tech industry
The UIDAI had reportedly asked the IT ministry to engage companies such as Apple, Samsung and Google to explore pre-loading the app on new devices back in January
While the move was not a formal directive, it reportedly triggered pushback from industry body Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT)
The Central government’s proposal to have the Aadhaar app pre-installed on smartphones has reportedly run into resistance from device makers and the broader tech industry.
As per a report by Reuters, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) had asked the IT ministry to engage companies such as Apple, Samsung and Google to explore pre-loading the app on new devices back in January.
While the move was not a formal directive, it reportedly triggered pushback from industry body Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT), which represents major smartphone brands and tech firms.
In its internal communication, MAIT said that its members, which includes Dixon, Nothing, Google, among others, were concerned about higher production costs and possible technical issues for users.
It also flagged privacy and security risks linked to pre-installing a government app tied to biometric data. MAIT added that only a few countries follow similar rules, with Russia being a key example of mandating pre-installed state apps.
UIDAI has argued that pre-installing the app would improve access and allow users to use key services without downloading it separately. The push comes weeks after the government rolled out a redesigned Aadhaar app positioned as a privacy-first identity solution.
Launched in January, the Aadhar app enables users to selectively share identity data, control consent and avoid handing over full Aadhaar details. It supports features such as QR-based verification, face authentication, biometric lock and unlock, and viewing authentication history.
The app is designed for multiple use cases, including hotel check-ins, hospital admissions, age verification and gig worker onboarding. It also allows users to manage up to five Aadhaar profiles on a single device and update details such as address and mobile number.
UIDAI’s app is built around data minimisation, allowing users to share only specific fields required for a transaction through digitally signed credentials, in line with India’s data protection framework.
The proposal comes months after the government rolled back a plan to mandate a telecom security app named Sanchar Saathi, on smartphones following criticism from tech firms, smartphone manufacturers, among others. At the time, watchdogs had argued that the app’s deep integration could turn into a full-fledged surveillance tool.
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