Aadhaar Update: Birth Certificate mandatory for Ages 5–18

Major changes to Aadhaar rules are being planned, and they could directly affect crores of children and their parents across India.

UIDAI is considering making the birth certificate mandatory for Aadhaar enrolment for all children up to 18 years of age.

At present, a birth certificate is compulsory only for children aged 0 to 5 years.

If the new proposal is approved, Aadhaar enrolment for anyone under 18 will require only a birth certificate as proof.

This move aims to strengthen identity verification and reduce fraud.

75,000 Aadhaar Applications Received Daily

UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar shared these details at a workshop held in Raipur.

He said UIDAI receives around 75,000 Aadhaar enrolment applications every day.

About 98 percent of these applications come from children below 18 years.

Children aged 0–5 years and 5–18 years make up almost equal shares, around 49 percent each.

In comparison, only about 1,600 applications daily come from people above 18 years of age.

Birth Certificate to Become Key for Name Changes

UIDAI is also planning to make birth certificates the main document for changing children’s names in Aadhaar records.

Many parents request name changes but fail to provide valid proof.

Going forward, the name mentioned on the birth certificate will be treated as final.

Even for name correction or change, the birth certificate will be required.

This step is meant to reduce confusion and prevent misuse.

Address and Mobile Updates Top the List

According to UIDAI, the highest number of Aadhaar update requests are related to address and mobile number changes.

People often relocate or change phone numbers, leading to frequent update requests.

Every year, UIDAI receives nearly 23 crore update requests.

This means around 7.5 lakh Aadhaar updates are processed daily.

Requests related to name and date of birth changes also come in large numbers.

Limited Chances to Change Name and Date of Birth

To stop misuse, UIDAI has tightened its rules further.

Date of birth can now be changed only once, while name changes are allowed only twice.

For major name changes, a gazette notification is mandatory.

UIDAI is also using artificial intelligence and machine learning to strengthen biometric checks and ensure no individual gets more than one Aadhaar number.

Shift Towards Online Verification

UIDAI is gradually moving away from offline document verification.

Documents like birth certificates, CBSE marksheets, PAN cards, passports, MGNREGA, and PDS records are being linked with government databases.

Birth certificate systems of 35 states are already integrated with UIDAI, making instant verification possible and reducing fake documents.

New Software to Strengthen Aadhaar Security

UIDAI is preparing to roll out a universal client software across all Aadhaar enrolment machines by October.

This software will allow QR-code-based documents to be scanned and verified instantly online.

This step will further tighten checks and help eliminate forged documents during enrolment and updates.

Aadhaar’s Role in Empowering Citizens

UIDAI officials highlighted that before Aadhaar, nearly 25 crore people in India had no identity proof.

Aadhaar gave them a formal identity and direct access to government welfare schemes.

Through Direct Benefit Transfer, the government has saved nearly 40 times more than the total cost of running the Aadhaar system.

Aadhaar Authentication Becoming More Advanced

UIDAI currently performs around 90 million Aadhaar authentications every day using OTP, biometrics, and face recognition.

Face authentication is emerging as a secure and convenient option, allowing people to access services like pensions from home.

UIDAI has clarified that while stricter rules may feel inconvenient, they are necessary to protect the system.

In the coming years, Aadhaar enrolment and updates will become more secure, transparent, and technology-driven.