Assam halts Aadhaar enrollment for 18+ for a year; SC/ST/tea exempt

The Assam government announced a policy shift in Aadhaar enrollment, barring adults over 18 from receiving new cards for the next year except for members of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and tea garden communities, who will be allowed an extended window to apply. The decision, approved by the state cabinet, will take effect on October 1, with non-exempt residents given a deadline of September 30 to complete enrollment. In extremely rare cases, District Commissioners may issue Aadhaar cards after the window closes, but only after examining reports from the district police and Foreigners Tribunals.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma framed the move as a safeguard against misuse of Aadhaar and a response to what officials describe as Aadhaar saturation, well beyond the state’s population. He highlighted that Assam has achieved about 103 percent saturation, with the exemption groups—SC, ST and tea garden communities—around 96 percent covered. “We want to create a protection so that no one can enter Assam illegally and take an Aadhaar and live as Indian citizens,” he said, underscoring the government’s concern about infiltrators along the border. He noted recent border...