i mentioned biometrics as historically it used to be a major point against the entire system. it is equally interesting to note that this aspect is no longer discussed as much.
we need to yet again stress on the universal part of the system. PAN might have KYC benefits, but keep in mind that there were about 67.7 million tax returns filed this year [1] compared to 1.42 billion or so living in the country. so assuming that everyone can benefit from PAN or other ID systems that are applicable for specific use cases is not enough to reach everyone.
whatever mix resulted into what Aadhaar is today, there are affordances that this allows that were previously not possible. keeping in mind that this has been a bipartisan effort, if there was indeed an existing system they could have improved, there should have been enough political and industrial will for it.
i just personally come to better appreciate it in hindsight now.
we need to yet again stress on the universal part of the system. PAN might have KYC benefits, but keep in mind that there were about 67.7 million tax returns filed this year [1] compared to 1.42 billion or so living in the country. so assuming that everyone can benefit from PAN or other ID systems that are applicable for specific use cases is not enough to reach everyone.
whatever mix resulted into what Aadhaar is today, there are affordances that this allows that were previously not possible. keeping in mind that this has been a bipartisan effort, if there was indeed an existing system they could have improved, there should have been enough political and industrial will for it.
i just personally come to better appreciate it in hindsight now.
[1] - https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleaseIframePage.aspx?PRID=1944...