Only 1.15 crore Aadhaar cards have been canceled, despite millions of deaths

The recent RTI revelation about Aadhaar deactivations presents a stark mismatch between India’s death records and the number of Aadhaar numbers actually deactivated. Here's a concise analysis of the implications and concerns:

Key Findings:

• Only 1.15 crore Aadhaar numbers have been deactivated in 14 years.

• India’s population (as of April 2025): 146.39 crore; Aadhaar holders: 142.39 crore.

• Average annual deaths (2007–2019): 83.5 lakh, implying over 10 crore deaths during the Aadhaar programme’s existence.

• Deactivation rate is under 10% of estimated deaths — a glaring shortfall.

Issues Identified:

1. Lack of automation in death reporting: The Aadhaar system relies on death certificates and family notifications, which are often delayed or not submitted at all.

2. No tracking of deceased Aadhaar holders: UIDAI confirmed it does not maintain specific data on Aadhaar-linked deaths.

3. Vulnerability to misuse: Active Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals can be exploited for illegal purposes — such as siphoning off subsidies or benefits, voter fraud, and impersonation.

4. Systemic disconnect: There's no real-time integration between state civil registration systems (CRS) and UIDAI databases.

Expert Recommendations:

• Automated syncing of CRS and Aadhaar databases.

• Mandatory Aadhaar update/deactivation during issuance of death certificates.

• Proactive audits to identify potentially inactive Aadhaar numbers.

• Legal frameworks ensuring accountability and action in case of misuse.

Conclusion:

The current Aadhaar deactivation practices represent a major loophole in India's digital identity infrastructure. Without urgent systemic reform and tighter coordination with state death registries, this gap could lead to significant fraud in government welfare schemes and undermine public trust in digital governance.