Assam Tightens Aadhaar Rules to Curb Illegal Enrolment
Cabinet mandates additional verification for applicants aged 18 and above
- Assam Cabinet restricts direct Aadhaar enrolment for adults
- Deputy Commissioners to oversee verification process
- Move aimed at preventing fraudulent identity documentation
- ST and Tea Tribe communities exempted from stricter norms
GG News Bureau
Guwahati, 13th June: The Assam Cabinet has approved a major overhaul of the Aadhaar enrolment process for adults, introducing stricter verification measures aimed at preventing suspected illegal immigrants from obtaining identity documents through fraudulent means.
Under the revised policy, individuals aged 18 years and above will no longer be able to obtain Aadhaar cards through the existing enrolment process without undergoing additional scrutiny.
The state government said the move is intended to strengthen identity verification mechanisms and safeguard the integrity of the Aadhaar database by ensuring that only eligible residents receive identification documents.
While Aadhaar enrolment for minors will continue under the existing framework, adults seeking Aadhaar registration or related services will be subjected to an additional layer of verification before their applications are processed.
As part of the new system, Deputy Commissioners have been entrusted with the responsibility of examining and approving cases requiring verification. Officials said the arrangement would introduce greater accountability and strengthen oversight in the enrolment process.
The government maintained that the revised framework is necessary to prevent unauthorized individuals from obtaining Aadhaar documents and to curb attempts at identity fraud.
The decision comes amid the Assam government’s continued focus on identifying and preventing illegal migration, particularly from neighbouring Bangladesh. State authorities have repeatedly stressed the need for robust verification procedures to maintain the credibility of official records and citizenship-related databases.
At the same time, the Cabinet has provided exemptions for certain communities. Members of Scheduled Tribe (ST) groups and Tea Tribe populations will receive relaxation from the stricter provisions in view of their unique demographic and documentation circumstances.
Officials said the policy seeks to strike a balance between facilitating access to identity services for genuine residents and preventing misuse of the system through fraudulent enrolment.
The latest decision is expected to play a key role in Assam’s broader efforts to strengthen documentation, identity verification and population records while addressing concerns related to illegal immigration.
