New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has deactivated upwards of 2 crore Aadhaar numbers linked to people who have passed away, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology announced on Wednesday. The large-scale cleanup is intended to keep the Aadhaar database current and reduce opportunities for illegal use of dormant identities.
According to the authority, removing Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals is key to preventing identity theft and blocking the unauthorized claim of government services and subsidies.
For the identification process, UIDAI has relied on information shared by multiple government bodies, including the Registrar General of India (RGI), state and Union Territory administrations, the Public Distribution System, and the National Social Assistance Programme. Plans are also underway to expand data sourcing by collaborating with banks and other financial organisations.
UIDAI emphasised that Aadhaar numbers are not reassigned once issued. After a person’s death, deactivation is required to ensure the identity cannot be misused.
Earlier this year, UIDAI rolled out a feature titled “Reporting of death of a family member” on the myAadhaar portal. The option is currently functional in 25 states and Union Territories that operate with the Civil Registration System, and efforts are in progress to include the remaining regions.
To submit a report, a family member must verify their own identity on the portal and provide the deceased person’s Aadhaar number, Death Registration Number, and other required information. UIDAI validates the details and, upon confirmation, deactivates the Aadhaar number concerned.
The authority has encouraged citizens to update the Aadhaar records of deceased relatives through the portal after obtaining the official death certificate. This, UIDAI noted, will support the creation of a more reliable and fraud-free Aadhaar ecosystem nationwide.
