Why is UIDAI Accessing 1.55 Crore Death Records?

New Delhi, July 16 (NationPress) The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has successfully retrieved 1.55 crore death records from the Registrar General of India. This action is aimed at deactivating Aadhaar numbers for individuals who have passed away, ensuring the ongoing accuracy and integrity of the Aadhaar database, as announced by the Ministry of Electronics and IT on Wednesday.

To avert unauthorized use of Aadhaar numbers after the death of a family member, holders are encouraged to report these deaths on the myAadhaar Portal following the acquisition of the death certificate from relevant authorities, according to the statement.

Importantly, no Aadhaar number is reassigned to a different individual. Therefore, deactivating the Aadhaar number of a deceased individual is crucial to prevent identity theft and misuse, as clarified in the statement.

Validation of the status of deceased Aadhaar holders is also essential before deactivation, as it could have significant implications.

To maintain the integrity of the Aadhaar database, UIDAI has proactively sought death records from multiple sources and is in the process of deactivating Aadhaar numbers following thorough validation, as stated.

Recently, UIDAI made a request to the Registrar General of India (RGI) for death records associated with Aadhaar numbers. RGI has provided approximately 1.55 crore death records from 24 States/UTs utilizing the Civil Registration System (CRS). Following validation, around 1.17 crore Aadhaar numbers have been deactivated, with efforts continuing in non-CRS States/UTs. Thus far, about 6.7 lakh death records have been received, and deactivation processes are ongoing, according to the official statement.

UIDAI also introduced a new feature called ‘Reporting of Death of a Family Member’ on the myAadhaar Portal on June 9, 2025, for deaths recorded in 24 States/UTs currently utilizing the Civil Registration System. This service enables individuals to report the passing of their relatives.

After verifying their identity, the family member must provide the Aadhaar number and Death Registration Number, alongside other demographic details of the deceased on the portal. Post-validation of the submitted information, actions will be taken regarding the deactivation of the deceased's Aadhaar number. Integration of the remaining States/UTs with the portal is presently underway.

Moreover, UIDAI is investigating ways to obtain death records from banks and other entities within the Aadhaar ecosystem that maintain such data.

UIDAI is also collaborating with State Governments to identify deceased Aadhaar number holders. As a pilot initiative, demographic information of Aadhaar holders aged over 100 is being shared with State Governments to confirm their status. Upon receiving verification reports, the necessary validations will be conducted prior to deactivating those Aadhaar numbers.

UIDAI has granted Aadhaar number holders a unique identity and a digital platform for authentication at any time and place. The Aadhaar number is a unique 12-digit digital identity for both residents of India and NRIs. This number is randomly generated, ensuring that not all 12-digit sequences are Aadhaar numbers, as noted in the statement.