Assam tightens rules to curb infiltration; No new Aadhaar for adults above 18 without state approval: Himanta Biswa Sarma
In a major move aimed at checking illegal immigration, particularly from Bangladesh, the Assam Cabinet has decided that Aadhaar cards will no longer be issued to individuals above the age of 18 through the normal process. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced that adult applicants will now require scrutiny by the district administration and approval from the state government before an Aadhaar card can be issued.
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In order to prevent illegal infiltrators from obtaining identity documents, the Assam government has decided to stop the routine issuance of Aadhaar cards to individuals above the age of 18. The decision was approved by the state Cabinet on June 13 and announced by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma following a Cabinet meeting in Guwahati.
The move comes against the backdrop of the state's ongoing efforts to curb illegal infiltration, particularly from neighbouring Bangladesh, and strengthen verification mechanisms for identity documents.
Addressing a press conference, Sarma said that Aadhaar cards would not be issued to people above 18 years of age through the regular process. In exceptional cases, however, applications may be considered after detailed scrutiny and approval by the state government.
Adult Aadhaar applicants to face additional scrutiny
Explaining the new mechanism, the Chief Minister said that any person above the age of 18 seeking an Aadhaar card would first require verification at the district level.
Under the new system, the district commissioner concerned will have to examine the case and forward a proposal to the state government seeking permission for Aadhaar issuance. The state government will then determine whether the applicant is eligible to receive the document.
Sarma said the decision was taken because Aadhaar enrolment in several districts has already crossed expected population levels, raising concerns about the identity of those obtaining the cards.
In national interest, Assam has decided to ban issuance of Aadhar cards to all adults above 18 years so that no illegal can legitimise themselves.
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 13, 2026
The ST and Tea Garden community will get an extension till 31 March 2027 to enrol themselves under Aadhar. pic.twitter.com/e0CJeItLoI
"Aadhaar card issuance has reached saturation point in Assam. In some districts, Aadhaar coverage has crossed the 100 per cent mark. We need to ascertain who these people are who are taking the additional Aadhaar cards," he said.
Illegal Bangladeshi infiltration behind the move
The Chief Minister made it clear that the primary objective behind the decision is to prevent illegal immigrants from acquiring Aadhaar cards and using them as identity proof.
According to Sarma, the government has been consistently monitoring infiltration issues and believes stricter Aadhaar verification is necessary to ensure that illegal Bangladeshis do not gain access to official documentation.
"The step is being taken to ensure that no illegal Bangladeshis get Aadhaar cards," he said.
The issue of illegal immigration has remained a major political and administrative concern in Assam for decades. Successive governments have cited concerns over demographic changes, pressure on resources and challenges in identifying foreign nationals who enter the state through porous international borders.
The state government has repeatedly argued that identity documents such as Aadhaar can be misused by infiltrators to establish residency and gain access to government benefits if strict verification mechanisms are not maintained.
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Limited exemptions for vulnerable communities
While imposing restrictions on adults seeking Aadhaar cards, the government has carved out temporary exemptions for certain communities.
Sarma said Aadhaar enrolment would continue for members of the Tea Tribe community, Scheduled Tribes (STs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and differently-abled persons who are yet to receive the document.
The government believes that many individuals from these groups still remain outside the Aadhaar network and should not be deprived of access to identification facilities.
However, the exemption will only be temporary.
"The ban will be absolute from April 1, 2027. People from these communities above the age of 18 will also stop receiving Aadhaar cards from that date," the Chief Minister announced.
Aadhaar for children to continue
The new restrictions will not apply to minors.
The Chief Minister clarified that Aadhaar cards will continue to be issued to individuals below the age of 18 years.
By focusing on adult applicants, the government intends to scrutinise new enrolments while allowing younger residents to continue obtaining identity documents through existing procedures.
NRC link and Aadhaar biometric controversy
The Aadhaar issue in Assam has remained intertwined with the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process.
More than nine lakh people had their biometrics locked during the NRC updation exercise, effectively preventing them from obtaining Aadhaar cards.
In 2022, a petition was filed seeking the unlocking of these biometrics. Subsequently, in September 2024, the Centre authorised the unlocking process, enabling affected individuals to receive Aadhaar cards.
At that time, Sarma had said that the Union government had instructed UIDAI to proceed with Aadhaar issuance because it had been established that there was "no correlation between inclusion of name in NRC and Aadhaar registration."
The latest decision, however, introduces a new layer of scrutiny specifically targeting adult enrolments in an effort to prevent misuse of the identification system.