Aadhaar Will No Longer Be Accepted as Proof of Birth in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra

Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have issued new directives declaring that Aadhaar can no longer be used as a standalone document to establish date of birth. The orders, issued by the Planning and Revenue Departments respectively, aim to enforce stricter verification norms for birth records and correct certificates issued solely on the basis of Aadhaar.

New Verification Rules in Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh has clarified that Aadhaar lacks any embedded birth certificate and therefore cannot be treated as proof of date of birth. All departments have been instructed to discontinue its use for this purpose. The directive emphasises that Aadhaar is only an identity document based on biometric enrolment and does not validate birth details.

Action Taken by Maharashtra Government

Maharashtra has similarly ruled that Aadhaar cannot be used to issue delayed birth certificates. Birth certificates created solely through Aadhaar verification after the 2023 amendment to the Births and Deaths Registration Act will be cancelled. The government has initiated action against officials involved in issuing such certificates and ordered a review of past approvals at the level of competent authorities and district collectors.

Context of National Verification and Security Measures

The changes coincide with broader administrative actions, including Uttar Pradesh’s campaign to identify and deport illegal immigrants. Temporary detention centres are being set up in each district, and border surveillance has been intensified. These steps accompany the nationwide Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls across 12 states and union territories ahead of the 2026 voter list publication.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Aadhaar establishes identity but does not certify date or place of birth.
• Birth and Death Registration (Amendment) Act, 2023 sets updated rules for issuing certificates.
• SIR voter roll revision will conclude with the final list on 7 February 2026.
• UP and Maharashtra orders mandate stricter verification for delayed birth records.

Supreme Court Position and Electoral Use

While the states have tightened rules for civil registration, the Supreme Court has permitted Aadhaar as one of several documents for identity verification during electoral roll inclusion in Bihar. The Election Commission must now accept Aadhaar along with 11 other approved documents under the SIR process, maintaining its role as an identity proof rather than a birth certificate.