In a startling revelation that has raised serious questions about data accuracy, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has informed the Election Commission that approximately 34 lakh Aadhaar cards in West Bengal are registered under the names of people who are now deceased.
Massive Data Discrepancy Uncovered
The UIDAI authorities communicated this significant finding to the Election Commission as part of their ongoing data verification process. The information was formally shared on November 13, 2025, highlighting a major gap in the synchronization between vital statistics and the Aadhaar database.
According to the official communication, the 34 lakh Aadhaar card holders identified as deceased represent a substantial portion of West Bengal's population records. This discovery has immediate implications for electoral rolls and government welfare schemes that rely on Aadhaar verification.
Additional Cases of Unregistered Deceased Individuals
Beyond the registered Aadhaar holders, the UIDAI also reported that about 13 lakh people in West Bengal never possessed Aadhaar cards but have since passed away. This additional finding underscores the challenges in maintaining accurate population records across different government databases.
The dual revelation points to systemic issues in how death registrations are coordinated with the UIDAI system. While some deceased individuals continue to have active Aadhaar records, others who died without ever enrolling highlight coverage gaps in the identification system.
Implications for Governance and Elections
This massive data discrepancy has significant consequences for multiple aspects of governance. The Election Commission now faces the challenge of cleaning up electoral rolls to prevent potential misuse of identities. Government welfare schemes that depend on Aadhaar authentication may also be vulnerable to fraudulent claims if deceased individuals' records remain active.
The timing of this revelation is particularly important as it comes during ongoing efforts to strengthen the integrity of citizen databases. The UIDAI's communication to the Election Commission represents a crucial step toward addressing these data integrity issues and improving the accuracy of India's digital identity infrastructure.
Authorities have begun investigating the root causes of these discrepancies and are developing protocols to better synchronize death registrations with Aadhaar database updates. This process is expected to help prevent similar issues in the future and maintain the reliability of India's flagship identification system.
