Overview
- UIDAI said Friday the IT ministry is not in favour of mandating Aadhaar preinstallation, ending the proposal after a review.
- Smartphone makers, including Apple and Samsung, opposed the plan, citing risks to device security and software compatibility.
- Companies warned the rule would force India-only builds with separate production and software lines, which would raise costs and complicate supply chains.
- Aadhaar is a 12‑digit biometric ID used for banking and telecom checks, and critics point to past leaks of personal data to argue against forced installs.
- A senior official said the ministry backs preloads only when essential, a position that follows six failed attempts to require state apps in the past two years.