UIDAI move to deactivate Aadhaar of deceased sparks concerns over accuracy, process
UIDAI has deactivated around 1.17 crore Aadhaar numbers after accessing approximately 1.55 crore death records from 24 states and union territories through the Registrar General of India. The move is aimed at preventing identity misuse and enhancing the accuracy of the Aadhaar database, according to a statement issued by the UIDAI office early last week.
A new feature introduced last month on the myAadhaar portal allows family members in these states to report the death of a relative by submitting their Aadhaar number and death registration details.
A similar process is being rolled out in non-civil registration system states, where only 6.7 lakh records have been shared so far.
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However, activist groups and policy observers have warned that in the absence of a foolproof and fully digitised birth and death registration mechanism, such steps may pose more harm than benefit.
"Unless there is a robust and verified system in place, this could result in wrongful deactivation of Aadhaar numbers, particularly in states where death registration is poorly maintained," said Pune-based activist Shrikant Joshi.
"Many states still face significant delays in updating death data, and a sudden deletion of Aadhaar can cause undue hardship to family members relying on it for posthumous legal, financial, or welfare matters.
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Former bureaucrat V Ramani pointed out that the lack of digitisation in death certification could render UIDAI's efforts unreliable. "While Aadhaar may be submitted at the time of death registration, the absence of digital records and verification mechanisms could lead to errors with far-reaching consequences," he said.
Activist Sheila Dave also questioned the timing of the move, citing gaps in the civil registration infrastructure. "Deactivating Aadhaar based on flawed or incomplete data could open the door to systemic errors. This should be done only when there is confidence in the registration system's accuracy."
The UIDAI statement said it ensured that safeguards are in place to validate death information before deactivating any Aadhaar number.
It is also piloting a project to verify the status of Aadhaar holders aged above 100, in collaboration with state govts. The authority is exploring additional data sources such as banks and Aadhaar ecosystem partners to ensure comprehensive coverage.
Officials have advised families to report the death of Aadhaar holders on the myAadhaar portal after securing a valid death certificate from local authorities to prevent identity misuse posthumously.
While UIDAI's efforts are positioned as a proactive step towards data hygiene and fraud prevention, the success of the initiative hinges on timely, universal, and digitally verifiable death registrations — an area where much work remains, said an official from the state information technology department.
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