Aadhaar Enrollment Pause in Assam: 1-Month Window Before Halt

August 22, 2025

Assam: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said there will be a one-month window for Assamese people starting September 1, after which the issuance of new Aadhaar cards to adults will be stopped so that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and not Nepalese can get the identity number in future.

If someone does not have Aadhaar documents yet, he or she will get an opportunity to apply from September 1 to September 30. The new rule will come into effect from October 1, with exemptions for SC, ST and Tea Tribes.

The Chief Minister said it is a cautious move so that no illegal foreigner can become an Indian citizen in future; it is not based on religion or any other criterion and is aimed at keeping Assam safe from infiltration.

He also informed that Aadhaar registration in Assam has already exceeded the state’s population; the saturation for the general population is 102%, which means the number of cards is more than the number of people. While the saturation for Tea Tribes, SC and ST is around 96%, so they need more time.

If a genuine Indian adult is left out, Aadhaar can be issued in rare, “rare of rare” circumstances after verification by meeting the district commissioner.

The chief minister also recalled the state’s continued crackdown on illegal immigration from Bangladesh. Illegal Bangladeshi nationals have been detained and deported almost every day in the past one year; though some may be displaced, the step is taken as a preventive measure.

He said the state’s population structure has undergone major changes in the past—indigenous Assamese people in many areas have lost jobs, land etc. to illegal migrants; some non-locals have attacked the administration during eviction drives. In Uriamghat, many people had gathered against the officials, which he alleged was a sign of a larger conspiracy.

The chief minister also argued that most adults already have Aadhaar, so now Aadhaar registration will be required only for children and newborns.

Over 2.66 million people in Assam were initially denied Aadhaar cards after the NRC in 2018, but the Supreme Court later allowed them to get the cards.