Following reports of supposed tensions between the Indian government and industry regarding pre-installing the Aadhaar app on smartphones, both parties have clarified that it’s merely a proposal under discussion, with no intention to make it mandatory. An official stated the app may come pre-installed but can be uninstalled. (Photo from the Google Play Store). Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO of UIDAI, informed HT on Friday that the proposal to preinstall the new Aadhaar app on mobile phones was sent to the IT ministry in November 2025, with stakeholder consultations currently underway. He explained, “The UIDAI’s rationale for preinstallation is to provide convenience to underprivileged users who lack high-end phones and cannot install space-intensive apps.” He added, “If it’s preinstalled, they won’t need to install it themselves.” It’s their choice whether to use it or not. Like Google Maps, it is pre-installed, but whether we choose to use it is up to us. The Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology (MAIT) sharply rebutted a news agency’s report titled ‘India’s proposal to preload national ID app Aadhaar on phones faced pushback.’ MAIT described the coverage as “an unwarranted attempt to sensationalize a discussion that is three months old.” It contended that the article drew from “disjointed pieces of internal communications.” “It is essential to note that these discussions/communications were part of an early consultation phase and were never formalized as a government mandate.” The dialogue served as an initial discussion of concepts, common in the early stages of policy development,” it added. The association also expressed appreciation for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and its ongoing transparent engagement with industry stakeholders. “MAIT calls on the media to act responsibly and avoid sensationalizing standard, non-binding policy discussions. We continue to be dedicated to collaborating closely with the government to guarantee that India’s digital transformation is founded on mutual trust and constructive engagement,” it added.
