Nandan Nilekani wants to do an Apple with Aadhaar - the world's biggest citizen database project that will provide a 12-digit unique identity number to each and every resident Indian.
Like Google and Apple, who opened up their platforms such as Android and iPhone, wooing developers to write software applications that enhanced user experience; Aadhaar's Holy Grail is to ensure that the unique numbers given to Indians translate into better citizen services. By opening up the core architecture forming Aadhaar database for third party developers, Nilekani plans to create an 'Apple or Google-like' ecosystem, wherein hundreds of user-friendly applications will help citizens and service providers tap into the real potential of a citizen database.
