India Accelerates Tech Capabilities Amid Global Shifts: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently emphasized India’s growing strength in technology and manufacturing during global times. According to The Economic Times, he highlighted how the country is making significant progress in mechanical systems, glass, and the broader assembly of electronics. A key focus was placed on the role of Aadhaar KYC approval for the startups and how the Ministry is enabling broader Aadhaar-based authentication for different sectors.

This development follows reports of Foxconn withdrawing its Chinese engineers from India. However, the minister pointed out that India is still getting strong technological support from Taiwan, the United States, and South Korea, which he believes is sufficient to sustain the country’s progress.

Strengthening Digital Infrastructure

The minister noted that India is steadily becoming a global hub for electronics and tech manufacturing. He shared that the country’s strong push for innovation and government-backed initiatives is now yielding visible results. Vaishnaw’s views on electronics manufacturing outlined how the country is building capabilities in semiconductors, telecom, and AI systems, which will be critical to India’s future economic resilience.

In particular, Vaishnaw pointed out the importance of creating a secure and scalable digital infrastructure that supports growing sectors such as fintech, health tech, and logistics. He said that the government’s investments in these areas have started to mature, leading to both job creation and export growth.

He pointed out that China has led in electronics value addition for over three decades, contributing around 38%. In comparison, India has crossed the 20% mark in just seven years. According to Vaishnaw, bridging this gap within the next five years is an achievable target.

Push for Aadhaar-Based Authentication

The IT minister also discussed the increased demand for Aadhaar authentication across various sectors. He specifically mentioned the growing request from quick commerce platforms and digital startups that are seeking the ministry’s approval for Aadhaar authentication to streamline their operations.

There is rising interest from food delivery providers, fintechs, and ride-hailing platforms in enabling real-time digital verifications. These platforms rely heavily on Aadhaar authentication for onboarding customers and workers quickly and securely. According to Vaishnaw, the government is actively working on approvals to expand the scope of Aadhaar usage in these industries.

Rising Gig Economy Needs KYC Support

One of the emerging trends highlighted by the minister was the KYC requirement for freelance and contract-based workers. Aadhaar KYC demand has surged among gig workers, especially as companies increase hiring for delivery, transport, and other service roles. Many startups are now pushing for simplified, government-approved digital KYC processes to speed up onboarding and enhance trust with users.

Vaishnaw added that these requests are being carefully reviewed and that frameworks are being built to ensure privacy, compliance, and reliability across all Aadhaar-based verifications.

Startups and Aadhaar KYC Approvals Under Focus

In recent months, many new-age companies have submitted proposals to use Aadhaar for customer and employee verification. Aadhaar KYC approval for startups is seen as a necessary step to reduce operational friction, eliminate paperwork, and provide seamless onboarding experiences.

The government is exploring how these requests can be approved responsibly, ensuring the process aligns with national data privacy standards and the goals of the Digital India mission.