NDI

National Digital Identity

A government-led framework designed to provide citizens and residents with a secure, verifiable digital identity that can be used across public and private sector services. Unlike traditional identity systems that rely heavily on physical documents and in-person verification, NDI initiatives establish a trusted digital credential that enables secure authentication and authorization in online interactions.

NDI Purpose

The core purpose of an NDI is to enhance trust, efficiency, and inclusivity in the digital economy. By standardizing how identity is verified and authenticated, governments can reduce fraud, simplify access to services, and empower individuals with greater control over their personal data. An NDI also helps bridge the gap between government-issued credentials (such as passports, driver’s licenses, and health cards) and their digital equivalents.

NDI Key Features

While the design of NDIs varies by country, most share common regulatory and technical characteristics:

• Government-backed assurance: The NDI is anchored in national identity registries or official government records, providing strong assurance of accuracy and legitimacy.
• Interoperability: NDIs are designed to work across multiple sectors, allowing the same credential to access healthcare, financial services, education, and government portals.
• Privacy by design: Many frameworks implement user consent, selective disclosure, and data minimization to protect individuals’ information.
• Digital credentials and wallets: Users often manage their NDI through secure mobile apps or wallets that store verified credentials.
• Standards and compliance: NDIs are typically built on international standards for identity assurance, authentication, and data protection.

NDI Regulatory Role

An NDI functions as both a policy framework and a technical system. Regulators define the standards, compliance requirements, and governance structures that identity providers and relying parties must follow. In some cases, governments serve as the sole issuer (as in Singapore’s NDI), while in others they partner with private sector organizations (as in India’s Aadhaar or Europe’s eIDAS-enabled national ID systems).

The regulation typically addresses:

• How identity providers are certified and monitored
• Data protection and privacy obligations
• Liability frameworks for misuse or breaches
• Cross-border interoperability with other national identity systems

NDI Global Examples

• Singapore NDI: Part of Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, providing SingPass as a core identity credential.
• India Aadhaar: A biometric-based digital identity system used by over a billion residents to access public and financial services.
• EU eIDAS Regulation: While not branded as NDI, eIDAS establishes a regulatory foundation for cross-border recognition of digital identities across EU member states.
• Australia myGovID: A digital identity platform linked to government services and financial transactions.

NDI initiatives are increasingly recognized as foundational infrastructure for modern economies. They underpin secure digital transactions, support inclusion by providing identity to underserved populations, and enable new innovations such as digital wallets and verifiable credentials. At the same time, they raise questions about surveillance, data sovereignty, and the balance between government oversight and individual rights.