Aadhaar Deactivation: UIDAI Blocks 25 Million Dead Accounts | India News

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has deactivated over 25 million Aadhaar numbers associated with deceased individuals.

This ongoing effort aims to maintain the accuracy and reliability of the Aadhaar database, the world’s largest biometric identity system, currently serving approximately 1,340 million active users.

Why Deactivating Aadhaar After Death Matters

Deactivating the Aadhaar number of a deceased person is crucial to prevent identity fraud and the unauthorized claiming of government welfare benefits, according to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

UIDAI noted that the address listed on an individual’s Aadhaar may not always align with the location where their death was officially registered.

Measures to Safeguard Against Identity Fraud

UIDAI has implemented several safeguards to minimize misuse and ensure benefits reach legitimate recipients. These include:

• Biometric lock/unlock: Aadhaar holders can lock their biometric data to block unauthorized authentication attempts.

• Aadhaar lock/unlock: Users can lock or unlock their Aadhaar number as needed.

• Face authentication with liveness detection: This feature confirms the physical presence of the beneficiary and prevents spoofing.

• Offline verification tools: Utilizing Aadhaar secure QR codes, paperless offline e-KYC, e-Aadhaar, and verifiable credentials.

• No sharing of core biometrics: UIDAI does not share the biometric data of Aadhaar holders.

• Secure data storage: Entities are required to use Aadhaar data vaults to store Aadhaar numbers in encrypted form.

• Database sanitisation: Regular de-duplication and deactivation of Aadhaar numbers belonging to deceased individuals.

• Controlled updates: Demographic details can only be updated using documents approved by UIDAI.

• New Aadhaar app: Facilitates the secure sharing of verified credentials with Offline Verification Seeking Entities (OVSE).

Over 20 Million Aadhaar Numbers Deactivated in November

In November, UIDAI reported deactivating more than 20 million Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals.

The authority identified these cases using data from the Registrar General of India (RGI), state and Union Territory authorities, the Public Distribution System, and the National Social Assistance Programme. UIDAI also intends to collaborate with banks and other institutions to access verified death records.

UIDAI emphasized that Aadhaar numbers are never reissued. However, deactivation upon death remains essential to prevent fraud and the improper use of Aadhaar-linked welfare benefits.