Assam Cabinet restricts Aadhaar issuance for adults to curb illegal immigration
The Assam Cabinet has decided to stop the issuance of Aadhaar cards to individuals above the age of 18 in a bid to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining the identity document. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced the decision after a Cabinet meeting in Guwahati on Saturday.
Sarma said Aadhaar enrolment in Assam has largely reached saturation levels, with some districts reporting enrolment figures exceeding 100 per cent. The government now intends to closely scrutinise new applications to identify and prevent illegal immigrants, particularly from Bangladesh, from securing Aadhaar cards.
Under the new system, individuals above 18 years seeking Aadhaar enrolment in exceptional cases will require approval from the state government. District Commissioners will first examine such applications and forward recommendations to the government, which will decide on eligibility.
The Chief Minister clarified that Aadhaar cards will continue to be issued to eligible persons below 18 years of age. Additionally, members of the tea garden community and Scheduled Tribes who are yet to receive Aadhaar cards will continue to be covered under the enrolment process for the time being.
However, Sarma said the exemption for these communities will also end from April 1, 2027, after which Aadhaar issuance for all individuals above 18 years will effectively stop under the state's new policy framework.
The move is part of Assam's broader efforts to strengthen identity verification mechanisms and address concerns over illegal immigration, an issue that has remained a key political and administrative focus in the state.
