In a significant move to secure digital identities and prevent welfare fraud, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has deactivated more than two crore Aadhaar numbers that belonged to deceased individuals. This massive clean-up of the national database is a crucial step in maintaining the integrity of the Aadhaar ecosystem.
How UIDAI Identifies Deceased Individuals
The authority is not relying on a single source for this sensitive task. It has proactively sourced verified death data from multiple government channels to ensure accuracy. These sources include the Registrar General of India (RGI), various state and union territory administrations, and databases from welfare schemes like the Public Distribution System and the National Social Assistance Programme.
To further strengthen this mechanism, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) stated that UIDAI is exploring partnerships with financial institutions and other entities. This collaboration aims to improve access to authenticated information about deceased persons, creating a more robust and real-time verification system.
Why Deactivation is Crucial for Security
While an Aadhaar number is a unique identifier that is never reassigned to another person, its deactivation after the holder's death is vital. UIDAI emphasizes that this process is essential to prevent identity fraud and stop any unauthorized use of the Aadhaar number for claiming welfare benefits or other services. This protects government resources and secures the digital identity of the deceased.
Simplified Process for Families to Report
To make the reporting process easier for citizens, UIDAI launched a dedicated online service earlier this year. The "Reporting of death of a family member" feature is available on the official myAadhaar portal.
Currently, this service is functional for deaths registered in 25 states and union territories through the Civil Registration System. Integration for the remaining regions is actively underway. The process is designed to be simple and secure.
Family members can authenticate themselves on the portal and submit the necessary details, which include the deceased person's Aadhaar number, the official Death Registration Number, and other demographic information. Once submitted, UIDAI validates the information against its records before initiating the deactivation, ensuring no erroneous actions are taken.
MeitY has encouraged all Aadhaar holders to responsibly report the death of a family member using this portal after they have obtained the official death certificate from the registering authorities. This civic action plays a direct role in safeguarding the nation's digital infrastructure.
