: Thursday, 01 May 2025 10:16 pm
New Delhi. Today is May 1 and today is also Gujarat Day. On this day in 2012, an example was set in Gujarat, which set a new example towards technological progress and national unity. Then Narendra Modi, who was the Chief Minister of Gujarat, not only made a new beginning by registering under the Aadhaar scheme, but also gave a message to the whole country that the country is universal by rising above political ideologies.
Former UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said that this was the time when the Aadhaar plan was being seen with opposition eyes. It was a non-BJP government initiative and was clouded with skepticism, but PM Modi (then the CM of Gujarat), while moving forward with the spirit of “nation first”, nominated himself for the base in a public event held in Gujarat.
According to former UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey, PM Modi’s move raised a trust across the country and encouraged people to become part of this change.
He said that when we talk about digital India today, it is necessary to remember a decisive moment when a leader rises above politics and adopted technology and presented an example. It was not just an Aadhaar registration, but it was a decisive step taken towards nation building, which had a positive impact and people came forward to enroll Aadhaar.
It is noteworthy that the first Aadhaar card in the country was issued on 28 January 2009. The card was assigned to a Marathi woman, Ranjana Sonwane, for the first time under the Aadhaar project. Ranjana Sonavane is a resident of Tebhla village in North Maharashtra.
In March 2016, the government introduced a bill called “Aadhaar (financial and other subsidy, profit and target distribution of services)” in the House. The bill was passed by Parliament and after the President’s approval became a law. In early 2017, various ministries made Aadhaar mandatory for welfare schemes, pension and employment programs. In addition, Aadhaar was also made necessary for filing income tax returns.
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