Assam Stops Issuing First-Time Aadhaar Cards for Adults Over 18: CM Himanta

Fast Summary:

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that adults (above 18 years) will not receive first-time Aadhaar cards in Assam starting October 2025, except for select groups.
• A one-month window from September 1 to September 30 has been provided for eligible individuals above 18 years to apply for Aadhaar cards.
• Exceptions are made for Tea Tribes and Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities, who can continue applying for first-time Aadhaar cards until next year.
• Teh decision aims to curb illegal immigration concerns from Bangladesh and prevent unauthorized individuals from obtaining Indian citizenship.
• Genuine cases of exclusion can appeal through district commissioners under rare circumstances post-verification.
• UIDAI guidelines allow Aadhaar enrollment without age restrictions; even newborns are eligible.
• Current Aadhaar saturation is at 103% among the general population in Assam but lower at 96% in Tea Tribe, SC, and ST communities.
• Mr. Sarma emphasized this measure as a permanent deterrent against infiltration attempts without discrimination based on religion or other criteria.

Image:
!Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. File

Indian Opinion analysis:

The directive by the Assam government reflects its commitment to addressing long-standing concerns about illegal immigration into the state.By restricting first-time issuance of Aadhaar cards to adults above the age of 18, this move seeks to tighten identity verification measures while maintaining safeguards against misuse by non-citizens. This policy may foster trust among residents regarding governmental action on border security while also reaffirming state-level responsibility in aligning with national identification systems like UIDAI.

However, exemptions granted to Tea Tribes, SCs, and STs highlight an acknowledgment of disparities within marginalized communities regarding document access-a step that might mitigate potential disenfranchisement issues. Ensuring smooth implementation and resolving exclusions via district commissioners could help preserve fairness in execution while maintaining public confidence in such a important identification-linked measure.

Read more: Assam CM announces crackdown on Aadhaar cardholders not in NRC