Aadhaar Number Cancelled : Big news for Aadhaar Card holders. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), which handles Aadhaar card registrations in the country, has made a significant move. To ensure transparency and accuracy of data, UIDAI has deactivated over 20 million Aadhaar numbers belonging to individuals who have passed away. This ‘clean-up drive’ is part of a nationwide initiative aimed at keeping the database both accurate and secure.
You might be curious about why it’s necessary to deactivate the Aadhaar cards of those who have died. This is closely tied to fraud prevention. UIDAI explains that if the Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals stay active, their identities could be exploited.
Fraudsters could use these Aadhaar cards to access welfare schemes, which is outright illegal. Hence, this deactivation was essential to thwart potential identity fraud and unauthorized access to government benefits. UIDAI has also made it clear that the Aadhaar number of a deceased person will never be reassigned to someone else.
UIDAI has teamed up with various government agencies to ensure the success of this ‘cleanliness drive.’ The data on deceased individuals has mainly been sourced from the Registrar General of India (RGI), different states and union territories, the Public Distribution System (PDS), and the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP). Additionally, UIDAI is planning to collaborate with financial institutions and similar organizations to gather a more comprehensive dataset of deceased individuals.
You can also report Aadhaar deactivation. UIDAI has simplified this process for regular citizens. Earlier this year, they introduced a new feature called “Reporting the death of a family member” on the myAadhaar Portal. Right now, this feature is available in 25 states and union territories that utilize the Civil Registration System. Efforts are ongoing to connect the remaining states to the portal soon.
If someone in your family has passed away, you can also report the death yourself on this portal. Family members must first authenticate themselves. Next, they must enter the deceased person’s Aadhaar number and Death Registration Number, as well as other demographic details, on the portal. After verifying the information you provide, UIDAI will take further action on whether to deactivate the deceased person’s Aadhaar number. UIDAI is urging all Aadhaar holders to immediately report the death of their loved one on the myAadhaar portal upon receiving the death certificate. This will not only keep the data accurate but also prevent any potential fraud.