Computer Says Maybe The Vaporstate: A Digitised India
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Jan 16, 2026 
In this insightful discussion, Aastha Kapoor, co-founder of the Aapti Institute, Mila Samdub, a designer and researcher, and Usha Ramanathan, a veteran lawyer, delve into India's Aadhaar system. They explore its transformation from a simple digital ID to a tool of surveillance and corporate control. The conversation highlights the shift of responsibility onto individuals, technical failures, and the growing private sector involvement. They also address the implications for democracy and public welfare in a digitized society.
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DPI Is An Approach, Not A Product
- Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is an approach: interoperable, extensible, reusable tech at scale rather than a single product.
- DPI centers on assigning unique IDs and platform architectures that enable many actors to access the same core services.
Civil Society Co-opted Early On
- Usha Ramanathan recalled early meetings where civil society was invited to onboard the poor without clarity on goals or legal safeguards.
- She described the project starting without white papers and with irritation when stakeholders asked basic questions.
Aadhaar Grew By Patching, Not Planning
- Aadhaar evolved through repeated, often unplanned changes and lacks a robust feedback loop.
- The system patched new requirements onto itself, producing inconsistent rules and unresolved scientific and sociological questions.