India drops Aadhaar app mandate

India's government has decided to drop a proposal that would have required smartphone manufacturers like Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics, and Alphabet Inc. to pre-install the country's biometric identification app, India — Aadhaar, on their devices. The India — Aadhaar (UIDAI) had initially asked the India — Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to engage with smartphone makers regarding this mandate. However, the Ministry, after consulting with stakeholders from the electronics industry, decided against the proposal. Smartphone manufacturers had opposed the idea, citing concerns over device security, compatibility, and the potential for higher production costs due to the need for separate manufacturing lines for India and export markets. This decision is seen as a move to address industry concerns and support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's goal of expanding India's role as a global smartphone manufacturing hub, while also reflecting regulatory restraint in response to privacy advocates' criticisms of India — Aadhaar.