UIDAI Deactivates Over 2 Crore Aadhaar Numbers of Deceased Individuals in Nationwide Clean-Up Effort

KalimNews, New Delhi, Nov 26, 2025 :  In a significant move to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the Aadhaar database, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has deactivated more than 2 crore Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals. This action forms part of a broader nationwide clean-up initiative to prevent identity fraud and the misuse of Aadhaar for unauthorised welfare benefits.

The UIDAI has sourced data on deceased individuals from various official channels, including the Registrar General of India (RGI), State/UTs records, Public Distribution System, and the National Social Assistance Program (NSAP), among others. In addition, the authority is working to collaborate with financial institutions and other entities to further enhance data accuracy.

The move is in line with UIDAI's ongoing efforts to maintain the reliability of the Aadhaar system, which is crucial for various government services and welfare schemes. "No Aadhaar number is ever reassigned to another individual. However, in the event of a person's death, it is crucial that their Aadhaar number is deactivated to prevent potential identity fraud or unauthorised usage of the Aadhaar number," stated a UIDAI spokesperson.

To facilitate this process, UIDAI introduced a new feature on the myAadhaar Portal earlier this year called "Reporting of Death of a Family Member." This facility allows family members to report the death of a person whose Aadhaar number is still active after the death is registered in the Civil Registration System (CRS). At present, this feature is available for deaths registered in 25 states and Union Territories, with efforts underway to integrate the remaining regions.

To report a death, a family member must authenticate themselves on the portal and provide the deceased person's Aadhaar number, Death Registration Number, and other relevant demographic details. Once the details are validated, the Aadhaar number is either deactivated or appropriate action is taken.

UIDAI has also called on Aadhaar holders to proactively report the death of their family members on the myAadhaar portal after obtaining the death certificate from the appropriate authorities. This step is crucial to ensuring that deceased individuals are not associated with the Aadhaar system, thereby safeguarding its security.

The Election Commission has highlighted the importance of this process, noting that around 34 lakh Aadhaar cardholders in West Bengal have been identified as "deceased" since the introduction of the Aadhaar system in 2009. This clean-up effort is expected to significantly improve the accuracy of the national database, helping to ensure that only living individuals are associated with active Aadhaar numbers.

UIDAI has emphasised that the deactivation process will continue, and it encourages citizens to take responsibility for reporting such information, contributing to the overall security and integrity of the Aadhaar system.