Aadhaar has been one of the most widely used documents for identification all over India. From opening up a bank account to accessing government schemes, it serves as an all-purpose ID for millions. But two of the largest states, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are now on record stating that an Aadhaar card cannot be used as a proof of birth or instead of a birth certificate.
The two state governments have notified that their departments should not ask for Aadhaar as a proof of date of birth. It is part of overall efforts to crackdown on increasing misuse of Aadhaar-linked documents in issuing fake birth and death certificates.
Why Aadhaar Is Now Unacceptable as Proof of Birth?
This has been explicitly stated in a recent circular of the Uttar Pradesh Planning Department:
“Your Aadhaar card does not have linked birth certificate to it so Aadhaar card cannot be evaluate as a birth certificate or authorization.”
The directive, issued by Special Secretary Amit Singh Bansal, insists that Aadhaar is a mere identity verification mechanism. It doesn’t record or verify a person’s date and place of birth, which are both important elements on an official birth certificate.
Maharashtra has also taken a similar decision. Instructed by a circular issued by the State Revenue Department, all such birth certificates drawn up recognising only an Aadhaar card — more so after the 2023 amendment to Births and Deaths Registration Act — will now be scrapped.
Officials say the rules need to be tightened because fake certificates were being used more and more for illegal acts like claiming government benefits, laying claim to property or assuming a false identity.
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More Rigorous Checks and Action on Officials
Maharashtra, on its part, has laid out a 16 point verification mechanism which makes the authorities to review and cancel orders issued wrongly (after) amendment in 2023. These revoked orders will be revalidated by district collectors or higher authorities.
Departments have also been ordered by the government to:
- recheck all unprocessed applications for birth certificates
- SC: Cancel applications that do not comply the new SOP
(Wrong entries from the portal of CRS) Remove wrong entries (here uploaded by you) from the portal or CRS;
More so, stern action will be taken against officers caught awarding unauthorized certificates. All questionable certificates issued through Aadhaar-only verification cancelled: Maha Min Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has directed to cancel all doubtful certificates issued on the basis of only Aadhaar verification.
Context: Right to vote is a fundamental right, the Supreme Court had ruled.
The crackdown assumes significance as the Supreme Court had permitted Aadhaar card to be used an identity document for the biometric identification of candidates in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral list which is currently going on in Bihar. The court ordered the Election Commission to accept Aadhaar as well as 11 other supporting documents for voter list registration.
But these exceptions are about identity verification — not being asked for a birth certificate. This difference was the reason why both state governments had to explain Aadhaar’s jurisdiction in civil registration cases.
UP Anti-CAB Take 2: Links New Order to Crackdown on Illegal Immigration
The revised birth-certificate guidelines for Uttar Pradesh come amid the state’s crackdown on illegal immigrants. Chief minister Yogi Adityanath said that district magistrates have been asked to identify the illegal stay of foreign nationals on Indian soil.
Key measures include:
- Establishment of temporary jails in each and every district
- Screening immigrants This fundamental screening exercise is beneficial for those of us WHO would otherwise support the protection in perpetuity of legal status.
Exiling foreign nationals after due process
UP has an open border with Nepal, where there is free movement of citizens as well as for Indian people while citizens from other countries have to undergo scrutiny. However, misuse of Aadhaar-linked birth certificates could create complications in process of verification, reason why the state is mulling to have strict norms.
In a Statewide Voter List Project
The move also comes amid a countrywide Special Intensive Revision across 12 states and union territories. The last revised voters list will be published on February 7, 2026. It’s also essential during such massive overhauls to have clean documentation — including verified birth records.
The Bottom Line
Aadhaar may be a powerful identity document, but is not an alternate to an official birth certificate.” Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are tightening this distinction to avoid fraudulent entries, to simplify civil registration and for better record-keeping.
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