Lucknow, November 28, 2025 – In a move to standardize documentation and prevent age-related fraud, the Uttar Pradesh government has issued strict directives prohibiting the use of Aadhaar cards as proof of date of birth across all state departments, reiterating a longstanding clarification from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
The order, dated November 24 and circulated by Special Secretary Amit Singh Singhal of the Planning Department, mandates that officials cease accepting Aadhaar for verifying birth dates in processes like government recruitments, educational admissions, and welfare schemes. It references a UIDAI communication from October 31, 2025, which explicitly states, “Aadhaar card is not the proof of birth,” building on an earlier advisory from June 5. The directive comes after reports surfaced of some departments continuing to rely on Aadhaar despite repeated warnings, prompting renewed enforcement.
"No birth certificate is attached to the Aadhaar card; therefore, it cannot be considered a birth certificate," the notification underscores, highlighting the document's primary role as an identity proof rather than a birth record. UIDAI Deputy Director Aditya Prakash Bajpai confirmed that the fresh push was necessary due to "some departments... still accepting Aadhaar" for such purposes, which could lead to discrepancies and misuse.
Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya hailed the step as a "positive direction" to safeguard against fraud, citing infamous cases like that of Samajwadi Party leader Azam Khan, who allegedly manipulated his son Abdullah Azam's PAN card details to meet the age threshold for MLA candidacy. "This will help prevent such manipulations and ensure transparency," Maurya told reporters, aligning the order with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath's broader crackdown on illegal immigration and law enforcement.
Under the new guidelines, departments must now insist on prescribed alternatives for birth verification, including:
- Birth certificate issued by a municipal authority or hospital.
- High school (Class 10) marksheet or certificate.
- Passport.
- Matriculation certificate from a recognized board.
These documents provide verifiable records tied directly to official registries, reducing the risk of tampering—a concern amplified in UP's vast administrative machinery serving over 240 million residents.
The decision echoes a parallel development in Maharashtra, where the State Revenue Department has ordered the cancellation of delayed birth certificates issued solely on Aadhaar basis post the 2023 amendment to the Births and Deaths Registration Act. Action will be taken against errant officers there as well, signaling a nationwide recalibration on Aadhaar's evidentiary limits.
While the Supreme Court has permitted Aadhaar as one of 12 identity proofs for electoral roll revisions in Bihar, experts note its exclusion from birth-specific contexts to maintain data integrity. Legal analyst Ravi Shankar Prasad, a former Union Minister, welcomed the UP order, stating it "reinforces the UIDAI's foundational intent and protects vulnerable processes from exploitation."
Implementation will be monitored through departmental compliance reports, with the Planning Department serving as the nodal agency. As UP gears up for upcoming recruitment drives and the 2026 local polls, the directive is expected to streamline verifications but may initially inconvenience citizens without alternative documents.
The UIDAI, in a related FAQ, advises updating Aadhaar with accurate demographic details but stresses it "does not confer citizenship or domicile." For those needing birth proofs, the government portal urges applying via local registrars. No immediate backlash has been reported, though digital rights groups have called for easier access to alternatives to avoid exclusion of marginalized communities.
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