Government Rejects Aadhaar as Birth Certificate in Two States

A significant regulatory update has been implemented in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, where Aadhaar cards are now officially disallowed as a birth certificate. The Planning Department in Uttar Pradesh has communicated this ruling across all its departments, stating that Aadhaar does not fulfill the criteria for a birth certificate. Concurrently, Maharashtra has strengthened its regulations to combat identity fraud. The state government has decided that Aadhaar cards will not be accepted when applying for delayed birth certificates. All birth certificates that were processed using only Aadhaar information after the Births and Deaths Registration (Amendment) Act of 2023 came into effect will be voided. This proactive approach by Maharashtra aims to prevent the misuse of forged documents. Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule has ordered the immediate cancellation of suspicious certificates and initiated investigations into officials responsible for their issuance.