GUWAHATI: In a significant policy shift aimed at identifying and deporting illegal immigrants, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday announced that Aadhaar enrolment for adults in the state will now require approval from district deputy commissioners (DCs). This move departs from the national norm where Aadhaar applications are processed by UIDAI-run seva kendras.
Announcing the decision after a cabinet meeting, Sarma said, “Only deputy commissioners will now be authorised to clear Aadhaar applications of adults. The aim is to prevent illegal Bangladeshi migrants from obtaining Aadhaar, which has been used as a proxy for legal identity. Without it, it will be much easier to detect and deport them.”
Sarma noted that Assam has already achieved 100% Aadhaar coverage among residents, and the new restriction will apply only to adult applicants—primarily those suspected of seeking to legitimise their presence in the state. Enrolment of newborns will continue through regular seva kendra channels.
The underlying assumption driving the new rule is that adults seeking Aadhaar at this stage may be attempting to acquire official documentation for the first time—potentially to mask illegal entry into the country. “Last night, we deported 20 more illegal Bangladeshi nationals. This tighter Aadhaar process will bolster our crackdown on infiltrators,” the CM added.
The new system will involve stricter authentication checks and document scrutiny before Aadhaar is issued. Though Aadhaar is not proof of Indian citizenship, it is widely used to access welfare schemes, open bank accounts, and obtain SIM cards, making it a de facto identity document.
Officials say routing adult Aadhaar applications through DCs is expected to reduce fraudulent entries by enabling direct oversight and flagging of suspicious applications.
With illegal immigration remaining a politically sensitive and high-priority issue in Assam, the government’s move signals a more aggressive approach to regulating access to identity infrastructure seen as a stepping stone to social and economic entitlements.
