UP, Maharashtra withdraw Aadhaar as proof of birth; stricter verification rules rolled out

The directives come at a time when a nationwide SIR process is underway across 12 states and Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have both withdrawn the use of Aadhaar as proof of birth or date of birth. The governments of both states have rolled out fresh instructions that significantly tighten the documentation required for birth certificate issuance.

In Uttar Pradesh, the Planning Department has told all departments that Aadhaar cannot be treated as a birth certificate since it does not contain any record of a person’s birth details, as per a Times of India report. The directive, issued by Special Secretary Amit Singh Bansal, states that Aadhaar should not be accepted as valid proof of date of birth for any official purpose.

Maharashtra too has followed suit with an equally stringent order. The state’s Revenue Department has clarified that Aadhaar will no longer be accepted for processing delayed birth certificates. It has also noted that all certificates issued solely on the basis of Aadhaar after the enforcement of the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Act, 2023, will be cancelled. Officials who approved such certificates could face action, the notice has further warned.

A detailed 16-point verification framework has been circulated, directing that orders issued by Deputy Tehsildars after the August 2023 amendments to the Birth and Death Registration Act, 1969, be revoked and reverified by competent authorities or district collectors.

Notably, these state directives come even as the Supreme Court recently permitted Aadhaar to be used as one of several identity documents for inclusion in Bihar’s electoral rolls, under the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a crackdown on illegal immigrants. In directions issued to district magistrates last week, he stressed that law and order, national security and social harmony remain core priorities for the state government.

According to a statement cited by PTI, district administrations have been asked to identify undocumented foreign nationals and take action as per established rules. The state has also directed all districts to set up temporary detention centres to hold such individuals until their credentials are verified, after which those confirmed as foreign citizens without valid documents will be deported.

Uttar Pradesh shares an open border with Nepal, allowing unrestricted movement for citizens of both countries. Nationals of other countries, however, are subject to routine checks.

The directives come at a time when a nationwide SIR process is underway across 12 states and Union Territories, including Uttar Pradesh. The updated electoral rolls are scheduled to be published on February 7, 2026.