UIDAI Deactivates 1.17 Crore Aadhaar Numbers of Deceased to Curb Identity Misuse
- UIDAI has deactivated Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals after validating 1.55 crore death records from 24 states and UTs.
- A new ‘Reporting of Death of a Family Member’ service is live on the myAadhaar portal, enabling families to report deaths for deactivation.
- UIDAI is working with non-CRS states and verifying centenarians’ status to expand Aadhaar deactivation efforts across the country.
In a major step to prevent identity fraud, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced the deactivation of over 1.17 crore Aadhaar numbers belonging to deceased individuals. This move is part of a larger initiative to maintain the integrity and accuracy of the Aadhaar database, and to prevent the misuse of deceased persons’ identity proofs.
The UIDAI, in an official statement released on Wednesday, confirmed the launch of a new online service titled ‘Reporting of Death of a Family Member’ on the myAadhaar portal. This digital facility enables citizens to voluntarily report the death of a family member by submitting their Aadhaar number and death registration details. The service, currently operational in 24 states and Union Territories, is expected to streamline the process of Aadhaar deactivation and minimize the chances of identity misuse posthumously.
To validate and carry out these deactivations, the UIDAI has collaborated with the Registrar General of India (RGI) and state governments. Through the Civil Registration System (CRS), approximately 1.55 crore death records have been obtained from 24 states and UTs. After cross-verification, around 1.17 crore Aadhaar numbers were found to be linked to the deceased and have since been deactivated.
In regions not yet covered under the CRS, the UIDAI is continuing the process. It has received around 6.7 lakh death records from non-CRS states and UTs, with the deactivation process for these records currently underway.
The myAadhaar portal's new service requires the reporting family member to authenticate their own identity and provide specific details such as the Aadhaar number of the deceased, their death registration number, and other demographic information. After verification, UIDAI proceeds with appropriate action.
Looking ahead, the UIDAI aims to expand this system to all remaining states and UTs. As part of a pilot program, the authority has started sharing data of Aadhaar holders aged over 100 with state governments to verify their status. Upon confirmation, necessary steps for deactivation will follow.
This proactive approach by UIDAI marks a significant effort in ensuring the credibility and reliability of Aadhaar as a national identity system.
