In 2023, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra implemented new directives stating that Aadhaar cannot be used as a standalone document to establish an individual's date of birth. These orders, issued by the Planning and Revenue Departments, aim to enforce stricter verification norms for birth records and correct certificates that were previously issued solely based on Aadhaar.
Uttar Pradesh clarified that Aadhaar does not contain an embedded birth certificate and, therefore, cannot be regarded as valid proof of date of birth. All state departments have been instructed to discontinue the use of Aadhaar for this purpose. The directive emphasizes that Aadhaar primarily serves as an identity document based on biometric enrolment, lacking the ability to validate birth details.
In a similar vein, the Maharashtra government has ruled that Aadhaar cannot be utilized to issue delayed birth certificates. Any birth certificates created solely through Aadhaar verification after the 2023 amendment to the Births and Deaths Registration Act will be annulled. The state government has initiated actions against officials involved in the issuance of such certificates and ordered a review of past approvals at the level of competent authorities and district collectors.
These changes coincide with broader administrative actions, including Uttar Pradesh's campaign to identify and deport illegal immigrants. The state is establishing temporary detention centres in each district, while border surveillance has been intensified. Such steps align with the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and union territories, scheduled to conclude with the final voter list publication on February 7, 2026.
While states have tightened civil registration rules, the Supreme Court has allowed Aadhaar as one of several documents for identity verification during electoral roll inclusion in Bihar. The Election Commission must now accept Aadhaar alongside 11 other approved documents under the SIR process, maintaining its role primarily as an identity proof rather than as a document certifying birth.
Q1. Why can't Aadhaar be used for date of birth verification?
Answer: Aadhaar does not contain a birth certificate and is only an identity document. Therefore, it cannot validate date of birth as per new directives from Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Q2. What are the implications of the 2023 amendment to the Births and Deaths Registration Act?
Answer: The amendment introduces stricter rules for issuing birth certificates, making Aadhaar inadequate for this purpose and leading to cancellation of certificates issued solely based on it.
Q3. What actions are being taken against officials in Maharashtra regarding birth certificates?
Answer: The Maharashtra government has initiated actions against officials who issued delayed birth certificates through Aadhaar and ordered a review of past approvals.
Q4. How does the Supreme Court view Aadhaar in electoral processes?
Answer: The Supreme Court allows Aadhaar as an identity proof for electoral roll inclusion but emphasizes that it should not be the sole document for verifying date of birth.
Q5. When will the final voter list be published after the SIR revision?
Answer: The final voter list is scheduled for publication on February 7, 2026, following the completion of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Question 1: What new directive was issued by Uttar Pradesh regarding Aadhaar?
A) It can still be used for birth verification.
B) It cannot be used to establish date of birth.
C) It is now mandatory for all identity proofs.
D) It can only be used for minors.
Correct Answer: B
Question 2: What does the 2023 amendment to the Births and Deaths Registration Act signify?
A) Stricter rules for issuing birth certificates.
B) Elimination of all birth records.
C) Introduction of new identity proofs.
D) No change in the existing laws.
Correct Answer: A
Question 3: What was the Supreme Court's position on Aadhaar's use in electoral processes?
A) It is the only document accepted.
B) It can be used as one of several identity proofs.
C) It is banned in all electoral processes.
D) It is only valid for state elections.
Correct Answer: B
Question 4: Which states implemented new rules against using Aadhaar for birth certificates?
A) Delhi and Punjab.
B) Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
C) Gujarat and Rajasthan.
D) Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
Correct Answer: B
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