UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Mumbai yesterday and met with Nandan Nilekani, Infosys co-founder and chairman of the Unique Identification Authority of India, among his first engagements. The meeting centred on the UK’s plans to introduce a digital ID system modelled on India’s Aadhaar programme, reported The Guardian.
Starmer met Nandan Nilekani, who is known for leading the creation of India's Aadhaar system, to discuss the speed of the rollout in India and the transformation of the benefits system.
"There is a case to be made about the benefits of voluntary ID into other areas, and obviously, we need to make that case. I don't know how many times the rest of you have had to look in the bottom drawer for three bills when you want to get your kids into school or apply for this or apply for that, it drives me to frustration," Starmer said.
Last month, Starmer announced that digital ID cards would be mandatory for British citizens and permanent residents seeking employment.
Unlike Aadhaar, however, the UK system is not expected to use biometric data at this stage, according to a spokesperson.
Meanwhile, the British Prime Minister and PM Narendra Modi, held discussions on further deepening trade and economic ties, which will create more jobs and see further investment flows between the two countries.
According to a joint statement released following the meeting, the two nations decided to create a joint centre for artificial intelligence (AI) and an India-UK connectivity and innovation centre. They also decided to form a critical minerals industry guild to support supply chains and advance green technologies.
On Wednesday, Starmer held a series of wide-ranging interactions in Mumbai. He met with business leaders and described the India-UK trade partnership as "really important".
Speaking at an interaction with industry representatives, he said, "This is the biggest trade mission that the United Kingdom has ever sent to India."
He noted that his visit marks the "return leg" after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's trip to the UK earlier this year.
Calling the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed in July this year between the two countries "really important", Starmer said, "It's the biggest deal we've struck since we left the European Union. I think it's also the biggest deal that India has ever struck, so it's hugely important."
The UK-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed in July 2024 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the UK, is a landmark deal that aims to boost bilateral trade between the two nations by £25.5 billion annually.
During the visit, PM Keir announced that three major productions from India's leading film studio, films Yash Raj Films (YRF), will be shot across locations in the United Kingdom starting in 2026, as per the British High Commission.
The visit of the UK PM comes after Prime Minister Modi's trip to the UK in July, where the trade deal was signed and nearly £6 billion in new investment and export wins were confirmed, an official statement noted.
Source Name : Economic Times