UIDAI has amended the Aadhaar regulations and released a new list of documents. Now, an individual will only have one valid Aadhaar number, and new documents for identity, address, date of birth, and relationship proof will be mandatory for registration or updates.
Aadhaar Card: The Aadhaar card has become the most important document for our identification today. From government schemes to banking services and mobile connections, Aadhaar has become mandatory everywhere. Meanwhile, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has made a significant change in the Aadhaar-related rules. A new list of documents for new Aadhaar enrollment and updates has been released. It has also been clarified that an individual will now have only one valid Aadhaar number. This new guideline from UIDAI will be implemented from the year 2025-26 and has been updated under the 'First Amendment Regulations, 2025'.
Only one Aadhaar number will now be valid
UIDAI has clarified that if any individual has two Aadhaar numbers - whether created due to technical errors or due to repeated applications - only the Aadhaar with the first recorded biometric information will be valid. This means that a citizen cannot have two Aadhaar cards. If someone has two Aadhaar numbers, the second one will be deactivated by UIDAI. This step has been taken to maintain the transparency and security of Aadhaar.
Documents for Aadhaar updates and registration have now changed
UIDAI has revised the list of documents used in Aadhaar-related tasks. Now, new types of documents will be required to prove identity, address, date of birth, and family relationships.
Proof of Identity
Documents that verify a person's identity for Aadhaar enrollment or updates now include:
- PAN Card
- Voter ID
- Driving License
- Any government photo ID card
Proof of Address
These documents will now be valid for address verification:
- Electricity, water, or gas bill (not older than 3 months)
- Bank Passbook
- Ration Card
- Documents related to any government housing scheme
Proof of Date of Birth
The documents that prove the date of birth include these documents:
- Birth Certificate
- Passport
- SSLC Certificate (Tenth Marksheet with DOB)
Proof of Family Relationship
If an individual needs to prove their relationship with a family member, these documents will be useful:
- Public Distribution System (PDS) Card
- MGNREGA Job Card
- Birth Certificate clarifying the parents' names
Aadhaar for children under 5 years of age
Two options are available for making an Aadhaar card for children under 5 years of age:
- The child's Aadhaar can be made based on the documents of the head of the family.
- Registration can also be done by independently submitting documents.
The Aadhaar card for these children is blue in color, which is called 'Blue Aadhaar'. This card is valid until the child turns 5 years old. After that, biometric updates become mandatory.
Steps towards Aadhaar security and transparency
This change by UIDAI indicates a major digital initiative. This will make the Aadhaar system more transparent, secure, and reliable. Having multiple Aadhaar numbers in the name of one person is not only against the rules, but it also increases the chances of fraud. This new policy of UIDAI will curb Aadhaar duplication and ensure accurate data collection.
What should citizens do?
- If you have two Aadhaar numbers, immediately go to the nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra and resolve this issue.
- If you want to update or enroll for Aadhaar afresh, keep the new documents list in mind.
- While making a Blue Aadhaar for children, get information about the appropriate documents beforehand.
