UIDAI Aadhaar Rules | UIDAI Letter D.O No.13065/1/2024-AUTH-I HQ/C-14500/2797 dated 06.10.2025

Dear Madam/sir,

You are aware that Aadhaar is being widely used for establishing the identity of individuals both in the Government as well as non-Government sectors. Time and again, it has been observed that some confusions are prevalent about the properties of Aadhaar number. In this regard, various clarifications have been issued by MeitY and UIDAI from time to time.

It may be pertinent to draw your attention to the following sections of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016:

Section 4. Properties of Aadhaar number. —

(3) Every Aadhaar number holder to establish his identity, may voluntarily use his Aadhaar number in physical or electronic form by way of authentication or offline verification......

Section 9. Aadhaar number not evidence of citizenship or domicile, etc. —

The Aadhaar number or the authentication thereof shall not, by itself, confer any right of, or proof of, citizenship or domicile in respect of an Aadhaar number holder.

In view of the above, Aadhaar number, by itself, is not a proof of citizenship or domicile etc. Aadhaar number can be taken as a proof of identity only, when it is subjected to authentication or offline verification. Kindly refer to my earlier D.O. letter No. 43079/55/2021-AUTH-II HQ/C-6074/2011, dated 16th July 2025, on the subject of use of Aadhaar QR Scanner App for offline verification.

Regarding the use of Aadhaar for establishing the date of birth, three clarifications have been issued vide MeitY F. No. 4(4)/57/186/2016/E&U-pt-II dated 20.12.2018 and 23.04.2024. It has been advised that Aadhaar may not be used as proof of date of birth. Moreover, for the last two years UIDAI has been including the following statement in every form of Aadhaar, namely, Aadhaar letter, PVC Card and e-Aadhaar: "Aadhaar is proof of identity, not of citizenship or date of birth". This has also been emphasized and reiterated in various judgements of High Courts and the Supreme Court of India.

Therefore, all authorities under your administration may be directed to keep in mind the following, while using an Aadhaar number:

• An Aadhaar number may be used for establishing the identity of the Aadhaar number holder subject to authentication or offline verification.
• An Aadhaar number or the authentication thereof, is not a proof of citizenship or domicile in respect of Aadhaar number holder.
• Aadhaar number is not a proof of date of birth and hence, must not be used for establishing the date of birth of the Aadhaar number holder conclusively.

With regards:

Yours sincerely,

(Bhuvnesh Kumar)

To,

1. Home Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, North Block, New Delhi - 110001
2. Secretaries, of All Ministries/Departments of Government of India. (As per list attached)
3. Chief Secretaries / Administrators of all the States / UTs. (As per list attached)

Copy to:

• All DDGs, Head Office, UIDAI.
• All DDGs, Regional Offices, UIDAI.