Here’s a quick wrap-up of the biggest stories from India this week.
1. India’s top court is considering whether to allow the government to link the country’s biometric ID database to tax filings: The government has proposed linking Aadhaar, the unique identity number issued to over 1.2 billion Indians based on biometric data, with tax filings this June. This would require all Indians to obtain an Aadhaar ID in order to file taxes, whereas, to date, Aadhaar IDs have been optional. Opponents challenged the move, arguing it violates individual privacy, is less secure, and burdens people unnecessarily. Currently, an individual’s tax details are linked to a number called the Permanent Account Number (PAN). India’s supreme court heard arguments this week and has not yet delivered a decision. Read more here.
2. A water crisis hit India’s Silicon Valley: Bengaluru, dubbed India’s Silicon Valley, is in the midst of a severe water crisis as its population explodes and concentrated growth around the city puts its infrastructure under severe…