Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that the state Cabinet has resolved not to issue Aadhaar cards to those aged over 18 years. This decision aims to prevent illegal immigrants from obtaining Aadhaar documentation. The announcement was made during a press conference held on Saturday, following a Cabinet meeting in Guwahati.

Sarma elaborated that in exceptional circumstances, district commissioners may propose the issuance of Aadhaar cards to individuals over 18, subject to approval from the state government. The eligibility of applicants will be assessed by the government on a case-by-case basis, he added.

The Chief Minister noted that the current levels of Aadhaar card issuance have reached saturation in Assam, with some districts allegedly surpassing 100 per cent. He emphasised the need to clarify the identities of individuals acquiring multiple Aadhaar cards, specifically to ensure that illegal immigrants do not gain access to this identification.

Community Exceptions Acknowledged

While the ban on Aadhaar card issuance will apply broadly, specific communities are exempted. Aadhaar cards will continue to be available for individuals belonging to the Tea Tribe, Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and persons with disabilities, as many within these groups have not yet received their cards.

However, the Chief Minister specified that this exemption will cease entirely from April 1, 2027, at which point individuals from these communities over the age of 18 will also no longer be eligible for Aadhaar cards. He reiterated that cards will still be issued to those below the age of 18.

Previous statements from Sarma indicated that the state intends to enforce stringent regulations regarding Aadhaar card issuance for adults. His government has expressed its determination to combat illegal immigration from Bangladesh through revised approaches to Aadhaar registration.

Legal Context Regarding Aadhaar Issuance

The Supreme Court ruled on May 4 concerning the issuance of Aadhaar cards, stating that legislative action is required to issue new cards exclusively to citizens under the age of six. The ruling followed a public interest litigation (PIL) aimed at directing the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to limit card issuance based on age.

The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, advised the petitioner to engage the state and relevant stakeholders on these matters. In Assam, over nine lakh people’s biometrics were locked during the updating of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

A petition led by former TMC MP Sushmita Dev in 2022 sought to unlock these biometrics, which the Centre did in September 2024. Following this, the Chief Minister reported that UIDAI had been instructed to facilitate the issuing of Aadhaar cards, clarifying that there is no direct relationship between an individual’s inclusion in the NRC and their eligibility for Aadhaar.

Cabinet Approvals and Future Initiatives

In addition to the Aadhaar-related decisions, the Cabinet has also endorsed the initiation of the VB-G RAM G Act framework, set to commence from July 1. A budget of Rs 2,000 crore has been allocated for this initiative, which aims to create 125 man-days of direct wage employment within the rural sector.

The Chief Minister highlighted that employment generation will be closely linked with asset creation under this new rural employment generation law. Furthermore, the Cabinet has sanctioned the establishment of the Guwahati Satellite Cities Development Authority, tasked with planning and developing satellite cities in the vicinity of Guwahati.

Also discussed during the Cabinet meeting was the requirement of Cabinet approval for granting ‘no objection certificates’ to All India Services officers, including IAS, for central and inter-state postings. Additionally, Sarma mentioned that the Assam Assembly would convene for its budget session on July 6, with the specific date for the budget presentation to be announced shortly.

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