Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday unveiled a sharp policy shift aimed at tightening Aadhaar regulations in the state, declaring that no first-time Aadhaar cards will be issued to individuals above 18 years of age. The move, he said, was designed to curb the risk of illegal immigrants acquiring Indian identity papers and misusing them for citizenship claims.
After a cabinet meeting, Sarma clarified that adults who have never held an Aadhaar card will get only a one-month window to apply. Beyond that, applications from those above 18 will not be entertained. However, in a special concession, members of tea tribes, Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) will continue to receive Aadhaar enrolment opportunities for one year.
“This is not a blanket denial, but a targeted safeguard,” Sarma stressed. “The reality is that almost every adult in Assam already possesses an Aadhaar card. It is only children and newborns who genuinely need fresh enrolment. If we keep issuing first-time cards to adults indefinitely, it opens doors for infiltrators from Bangladesh to exploit the system.”
The chief minister also hinted at further decentralization of Aadhaar scrutiny, revealing that the government is considering empowering District Commissioners to approve or reject Aadhaar applications for adults.
