Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Saturday that the state Cabinet has approved a significant change in the Aadhaar card issuance process, under which individuals above the age of 18 will no longer be able to obtain Aadhaar cards through the regular mechanism. The decision, according to the Chief Minister, has been taken as part of the state government's broader efforts to prevent illegal immigrants from acquiring Aadhaar documents and to strengthen scrutiny over new applicants.
Addressing a press conference after chairing a Cabinet meeting, Sarma explained that Aadhaar enrolment in Assam has already reached what he described as a saturation level. He noted that in some districts, Aadhaar coverage has exceeded 100 per cent of the population, raising concerns about the identity of individuals who continue to obtain additional Aadhaar cards. The government, he said, intends to investigate these anomalies and ensure that the system is not being misused.
Under the newly approved framework, individuals above 18 years of age seeking an Aadhaar card will not be issued one directly. Instead, in exceptional situations, the concerned district commissioner will be required to submit a proposal to the state government requesting approval for issuance. The state government will then evaluate the application and determine whether the individual is eligible to receive the Aadhaar card after necessary verification.
The Chief Minister stated that the primary objective of the decision is to prevent illegal immigrants, particularly those suspected of entering Assam from Bangladesh without valid documentation, from obtaining Aadhaar cards. According to Sarma, stricter controls are necessary to ensure that the identity document is not used by individuals who are not legally entitled to possess it.
Despite the restrictions, the government has decided to continue issuing Aadhaar cards to certain categories of people above the age of 18 for a limited period. These exemptions include members of the Tea Tribe community, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and persons with disabilities. Sarma explained that a considerable number of people belonging to these groups have yet to receive Aadhaar cards, and therefore, the government does not want them to be adversely affected by the immediate implementation of the restrictions.
However, the Chief Minister clarified that this exemption will not continue indefinitely. He announced that from April 1, 2027, the restrictions will become absolute, meaning that even individuals from these exempted categories who are above 18 years of age will no longer be able to obtain Aadhaar cards through the normal process. From that date onwards, the new policy will apply uniformly across all communities.
At the same time, Aadhaar enrolment for individuals below the age of 18 will continue without interruption. The state government has decided that children and minors will remain eligible for Aadhaar registration under the existing procedures, ensuring that the restrictions primarily target adult applicants.
Sarma noted that he had previously indicated the government's intention to adopt a stricter approach towards Aadhaar issuance. He reiterated that obtaining an Aadhaar card in Assam would no longer be a straightforward process for adults and that stringent verification mechanisms would be put in place to ensure that only eligible individuals receive the document.
The Chief Minister recalled that the Assam government had been considering tougher rules for adult Aadhaar enrolment for some time. Last year, he had publicly stated that the administration was exploring ways to tighten regulations surrounding Aadhaar issuance as part of its broader campaign against illegal immigration from neighbouring Bangladesh.
The issue of Aadhaar eligibility has also been the subject of legal debate. Sarma referred to a recent Supreme Court ruling delivered on May 4, in which the court observed that restricting the issuance of new Aadhaar cards exclusively to citizens up to the age of six years would require legislative intervention and amendments to the existing legal framework governing Aadhaar enrolment.
The observation was made by a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi while hearing a public interest litigation seeking directions to the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to issue Aadhaar cards only to citizens up to the age of six years. The court stated that the petitioner should place the matter before the government and relevant stakeholders so that they could examine the concerns and take appropriate action if necessary.
The Aadhaar issue has been particularly sensitive in Assam because of its connection to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) process. During the NRC updation exercise, the biometric details of more than nine lakh individuals were locked, preventing them from obtaining Aadhaar cards. This created significant difficulties for many residents who were unable to access various services requiring Aadhaar-based identification.
In 2022, a petition was filed by former Trinamool Congress MP Sushmita Dev seeking the unlocking of these biometrics. Subsequently, in September 2024, the Central government authorised the unlocking of the biometric records, enabling those individuals to proceed with Aadhaar enrolment and receive their identity cards.
At that time, Sarma had stated that the Centre had instructed the UIDAI to issue Aadhaar cards to these individuals because it had been established that there was no direct connection between inclusion in the NRC and eligibility for Aadhaar registration. The government maintained that Aadhaar and NRC served different purposes and that one did not automatically determine the other.
Apart from the Aadhaar-related decisions, the Assam Cabinet also approved several other important measures during the meeting. Sarma announced that the government has approved the implementation framework for the VB-G RAM G Act in the state, which is scheduled to come into effect from July 1. The initiative is aimed at boosting rural employment and creating productive assets across various regions of Assam.
The Chief Minister said that a budgetary allocation of Rs 2,000 crore has been earmarked for the programme. Under the scheme, approximately 125 man-days of direct wage employment will be generated, providing work opportunities to a large number of rural residents while simultaneously supporting developmental activities.
He emphasised that the programme would not focus solely on employment generation but would also prioritise the creation of durable community assets. According to Sarma, the government intends to ensure that public spending under the scheme contributes to long-term infrastructure and development objectives in rural areas.
The Cabinet also approved the establishment of the Guwahati Satellite Cities Development Authority (GSCDA). The new authority will be responsible for planning, financing, and developing satellite cities in and around Guwahati with the objective of supporting urban expansion and reducing pressure on the rapidly growing metropolitan area.
The proposed authority will function within the jurisdiction of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority and is expected to play a key role in future urban planning initiatives. Officials believe the move will facilitate more organised growth and improve infrastructure development in areas surrounding the state capital.
Another significant administrative decision taken during the Cabinet meeting relates to officers belonging to the All India Services, including the Indian Administrative Service (IAS). Sarma announced that Cabinet approval will now be mandatory before issuing no-objection certificates for central deputation or inter-state deputation of such officers. The measure is intended to strengthen oversight over administrative personnel movements and ensure that important decisions regarding senior officers receive collective government approval.
The Chief Minister also announced that the budget session of the Assam Legislative Assembly will commence on July 6. While the exact date for the presentation of the state budget has not yet been finalised, he stated that an official announcement regarding the schedule would be made in the near future.
Through these decisions, the Assam government has signalled its intention to strengthen controls over Aadhaar issuance, intensify efforts against illegal immigration, expand rural employment opportunities, improve urban planning around Guwahati, and enhance administrative oversight. Among these measures, the decision to restrict Aadhaar cards for adults stands out as one of the most significant and potentially far-reaching policy changes undertaken by the state in recent years.
