Officially referred to as the Aadhaar card or Aadhaar number, Aadhaar is India's biometric identity system. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), a statutory entity within the Indian government, is responsible for issuing it. Each resident receives a 12-digit unique identity number from Aadhaar, which is connected to their biometric information (iris scan and fingerprints) and basic demographics. It is intended to function as a standard identity document enabling locals to securely and dependably access services and social programs.
Opening bank accounts, obtaining government benefits, submitting taxes, and obtaining mobile connections are just a few of the many uses for Aadhaar to verify identification.
Additionally, it can be electronically confirmed via mobile apps or QR codes in place of a physical card, which lessens fraud and the misuse of paper papers.
UIDAI made significant improvements in 2025 that made it simpler to update information online, including name, address, date of birth, and cellphone number, without going to an Aadhaar centre. Nonetheless, in-person presence at an approved location is still necessary for biometric upgrades. By the end of 2025, Aadhaar and PAN will be required to be connected for financial purposes.
Updates to the system have also been made with inclusiveness in mind. For instance, millions of families are benefiting from the free one-year biometric updates for children between the ages of five and fifteen.
Aadhaar has encountered difficulties and criticism despite its advantages. While privacy advocates voice worries over centralised data and possible exclusion when authentication fails, some citizens cite administrative or technical issues while utilising or changing their data.
All things considered, Aadhaar continues to be essential to India's digital identity infrastructure, striking a balance between security and convenience for citizens using both governmental and private services.
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP and senior party leader Arvind Sawant paid an emotional tribute to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who died in a tragic plane crash on Wednesday, describing him as a “trustworthy man” and a “man of his words.”
The release of the draft voter list in Uttar Pradesh has sparked a major political row after the Election Commission of India (ECI) deleted approximately 2.89 crore names. Out of nearly 16 crore voters in the state, 12.55 crore submitted enumeration forms under the Self-Identification Registry (SIR) process. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Samajwadi Party, have termed the exercise a 'big conspiracy' and accused the ECI of mass removals without adding new voters. A speaker noted, 'The purpose of the SIR was never to enlist genuine voters,' alleging that the system was intentionally complicated to exclude eligible citizens. The Samajwadi Party further claimed that Booth Level Officers (BLOs) faced undue pressure during the survey, leading to health crises and fatalities. However, the ECI maintained that the list is merely a draft and citizens can verify deletion reasons on the official website, dismissing the allegations as baseless and asserting that mass removals are not being conducted.
A political dispute intensifies in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government of facilitating illegal infiltration to alter state demographics for vote bank politics. Shah stated that the BJP, if elected, would end this practice. In a sharp rebuttal, Banerjee compared BJP leaders to mythological figures 'Duryodhan and Dushasan' and questioned why the central government's Border Security Force has not secured the borders. The controversy also includes debates on the issuance of identity documents to migrants. Separately, the report covers the diplomatic fallout from an upcoming film, 'Battle of Galwan'. Chinese state media has reacted strongly, accusing the film of distorting the facts of the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. This has led to analysis of the broader implications for India-China relations and the status of de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
A political war has intensified in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah accusing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government of facilitating illegal infiltration to alter state demographics for vote bank politics.
On this Special Report, the focus is on the heated debate over illegal infiltration in West Bengal. Union Home Minister Amit Shah accuses the Mamata Banerjee government of stalling border fencing work along the 112-km difficult terrain. Countering the narrative, Bangla Pokho General Secretary Garga Chatterjee argues that the percentage of Bengali-speaking people has declined, dismissing the 'Bangladeshi bogey'. Political Analyst Rishi Bagri highlights the arrest of Bangladeshi actress Shanta Paul with fake Indian documents as proof of a demographic shift. The panel, including BJP’s R P Singh and Senior Journalist Shikha Mukherjee, discusses the implications of the SIR process and the 2026 elections.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah addresses Parliament, stating that 450 km of border fencing in West Bengal is pending because the 'Bengal sarkaar bhumi nahi deti' (Bengal government does not provide land). He notes that 112 km of the border comprises difficult terrain like rivers and hills. During the discussion, analyst Rishi Bagri cites the recent arrest of Bangladeshi actress Shanta Paul, who was caught with Indian Aadhaar cards, as evidence of unchecked infiltration. Journalist Shikha Mukherjee analyses the political narrative linking 'Ghuspetia' to demographic changes ahead of the 2026 elections.
A demolition drive in Bengaluru has ignited a political firestorm, with the city's civic body chief, Maheshwar Rao, stating the cleared land was an unsafe quarry area used for solid waste disposal. The action drew sharp criticism from Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, which Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah dismissed as politically motivated. Adding to the opposition, CPM MP A. A. Rahim condemned the move, stating, 'This is a bulldozer, Raj. Under the Congress regime, that is the news value and that is the political significance of this incident.' Rahim claims the displaced residents are legitimate Indian citizens with all necessary documents and that the government failed to follow the Supreme Court's directions on evictions. The controversy also involves accusations of 'minority appeasement' by the BJP against the Siddaramaiah government.
In this special report, India Today's Samarth Srivastava details a joint operation by Lucknow Police, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), and the Government Railway Police (GRP) to identify illegal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis. The drive, conducted near the Lucknow railway station, involves rigorous verification of Aadhaar cards and other IDs of those living in shanties. While residents claim to be from districts like Amethi and Raebareli, the crackdown follows Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's directive to identify illegal immigrants. No illegal residents have been found so far in this specific drive. Cameraman Sandeep Dubey assists in the report.
In a special address in Jordan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the synergy between India's 'historic trust' and Jordan's 'future economic opportunities.' Describing India as a 'new growth engine' with a growth rate above 8%, PM Modi stated, 'India brings trust and Jordan brings reach.' He urged Jordanian investors to leverage India's digital public infrastructure, including UPI and Aadhaar, and proposed collaboration in pharma, agriculture, and green energy. The Prime Minister emphasized that their partnership could serve as a reliable supply chain hub for West Asia and Africa.
This edition of News Today details a horrific terror attack at Sydney's Bondi Beach, where a Pakistani father-son duo, identified as Naveed and Sajid Akram, opened fire on a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, resulting in 16 fatalities.
This special report covers a raid conducted by police and a political representative in Lucknow's slum areas. The inspection focused on verifying the identity documents of residents, specifically looking for discrepancies in Aadhaar cards and NRC forms. The report highlights claims that some residents possess Aadhaar cards with 'Care of' fields instead of 'Son of' or 'Wife of', raising suspicions about their authenticity. The transcript details the discovery of rejected NRC forms and the alleged presence of illegal immigrants. The speaker discusses the need for strict verification, the potential for deportation, and the establishment of detention centers for those unable to prove their citizenship. The report also touches on the recovery of other documents like PAN cards and driving licenses from the location.
In this special report, the focus is on the heated parliamentary debate regarding electoral reforms and allegations of 'vote theft'. The discussion follows the Home Minister's rejection of opposition claims concerning the Election Commission's impartiality. An opposition representative argues that the demand for machine-readable voter lists and greater transparency remains unmet, citing discrepancies in recent state elections. In response, a ruling party spokesperson defends the current electoral process, highlighting reforms like VVPAT and Aadhaar linking, while dismissing the opposition's charges as baseless excuses for electoral defeats. The debate also touches on the controversial 'SIR' exercise for cleaning electoral rolls and the issue of illegal migrants.
In this special report, the focus is on the heated parliamentary debate regarding electoral reforms and allegations of 'vote theft'. The discussion follows the Home Minister's rejection of opposition claims concerning the Election Commission's impartiality. An opposition representative argues that the demand for machine-readable voter lists and greater transparency remains unmet, citing discrepancies in recent state elections. In response, a ruling party spokesperson defends the current electoral process, highlighting reforms like VVPAT and Aadhaar linking, while dismissing the opposition's charges as baseless excuses for electoral defeats. The debate also touches on the controversial 'SIR' exercise for cleaning electoral rolls and the issue of illegal migrants.
In this special report, an unidentified reporter covers the ongoing drive against illegal Rohingyas and Bangladeshis in Uttar Pradesh. The police and administrative departments are conducting raids on illegal 'Jhoogis' (settlements) in a specific location. The reporter observes that 'many have left their places, left their homes... leaving behind their belongings,' including spectacle cases and other items, indicating a hasty departure. The report highlights that many of the individuals questioned possessed Aadhaar cards from a specific area in Assam. The reporter also notes the challenge for the police regarding where these individuals will go next, as detention centres are not yet ready. The visual evidence includes abandoned belongings and questionable electricity connections, underscoring the scale of the illegal settlements.
In this Special Report, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi dismisses Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia’s assurance that the Sanchar Saathi app is optional. Speaking to India Today, Chaturvedi argues that the government’s written mandate contradicts Scindia’s verbal clarification, stating, ‘It is the written words and the written words are pretty clear that it is mandated and they cannot alter, change or deny access.’ She labels the move a ‘surveillance mechanism’ and questions why a government app must be pre-loaded on smartphones, comparing it to practices in Russia. The discussion follows the Centre’s directive to manufacturers to install the app to curb cyber fraud.
In this Special Report, the panel debates the contentious Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the alleged suicides of Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The Supreme Court has questioned whether foreigners with Aadhaar cards can be allowed to vote, a point highlighted by BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari. Congress National Spokesperson Salman Soz criticizes the government for the 'human cost' of the exercise, citing the death of 41 election workers. Political analysts Rajat Sethi and Ashutosh discuss the broader implications of the parliamentary deadlock and the trust deficit between the government and the opposition.
In this Special Report, the panel debates the controversy surrounding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the alleged suicides of Booth Level Officers (BLOs). The Supreme Court recently observed, 'Can foreigners with Aadhaar card be allowed to vote?', questioning the use of Aadhaar as proof of citizenship for voting. BJP Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari defends the process, citing TMC threats to BLOs in West Bengal. Congress leader Salman Soz attacks the government, claiming '41 election workers have died in 27 days' due to pressure. Political Analyst Rajat Sethi and Senior Journalist Ashutosh discuss the 'arrogance' of the Election Commission and the disruption in Parliament.
This special report details the Karnataka government's drought relief measures for farmers. Revenue Minister Krishna Byre Gowda outlines the compensation structure, including payments from the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) and additional aid from the state government, mentioning a figure of ₹1330 crores. The report covers the process for fund disbursement to affected farmers across various districts. Minister Krishna Byre Gowda stated that the relief amount 'will be transferred through DBT to proper accounts, just by pressing a button this money would be transferred'. The discussion also touches on the different compensation amounts for dry land versus multi-crop land, the total estimated property damage of around ₹3455 crores, and the state's request for central assistance. The mechanism for payment is specified as the Aadhaar Enabled Payment System (AEPS) to ensure direct transfer to farmers' accounts.
This Business Today bulletin covers key market-moving news, including the Sensex exit of Tata Motors and its replacement by IndiGo. The discussion also focuses on the financial impact of a $194 million penalty on TCS, the stock dip of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) following a Tejas aircraft crash at the Dubai Airshow, and the implications of new labour laws for gig economy companies. Experts analyse market trends, with the IT and PSU banking sectors showing strength. According to market analyst Shailendra Bhatnagar, regarding the Sensex change, 'a sensible investor will go for margin of safety rather than a popular trade'. The bulletin also notes management changes, such as Rohit Soni's appointment as the new CFO at Ambuja Cements, and previews upcoming IPOs.
This India Today report from Hakimpur on the India-Bangladesh border covers the daily return of 200 to 300 suspected Bangladeshi nationals. The exodus is linked to a special intensive revision of electoral rolls, prompting those who entered India illegally years ago to leave. Many, like Mithu Mola, admit to procuring Aadhaar and voter IDs after crossing the border with the help of agents. According to the report, Mithu Mola stated that 'he has casted his mandate in India thrice'. The report also features Mehdi Hasan Ahmed, who came for medical treatment 20 years ago and never left. The Trinamool Congress has blamed the central government for the situation, while the report questions how these individuals evaded the Border Security Force (BSF) for so long.
