In a decisive move to combat illegal immigration, the Assam government has announced that only District Commissioners (DCs) will be authorized to issue Aadhaar cards to adults, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma confirmed following a recent cabinet meeting. The policy aims to prevent undocumented immigrants—particularly from Bangladesh—from obtaining Aadhaar cards and misusing them to access government services.
🛂 Aadhaar Issuance Now Under DC Scrutiny
- The state has already achieved 100% Aadhaar coverage, making new adult applications rare
- Going forward, only DCs will verify and approve Aadhaar issuance for adults, replacing the earlier decentralized system
- CM Sarma emphasized that this will make it “difficult for Bangladeshis to obtain Aadhaar”, aiding detection and deportation efforts
“If such a policy is made, detecting and pushing them back will be easy if they do not possess Aadhaar,” Sarma stated
🔍 Background and Enforcement
- The move follows the recent deportation of 20 illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, part of a broader crackdown
- In 2024, the government halted Aadhaar issuance for individuals who hadn’t applied for inclusion in the National Register of Citizens (NRC)
- Four districts—Barpeta, Dhubri, Morigaon, and Nagaon—were found to have Aadhaar coverage exceeding 100%, raising red flags about fraudulent entries
🧾 Additional Measures Under Consideration
- The state is also planning to tighten delayed birth registrations, which are often used to fabricate identity documents
- A new law may soon mandate that only DCs can approve backdated birth certificates, further closing loopholes
📌 Why It Matters
- Reinforces Assam’s efforts to safeguard its demographic profile and secure its borders
- Sets a precedent for state-level Aadhaar regulation amid national debates on identity verification
- Highlights the intersection of digital identity, migration control, and governance
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