The Uttar Pradesh government has once again clarified that Aadhaar cannot be used as proof of date of birth for any official purpose. This follows repeated misuse of Aadhaar as a birth document in schools, colleges, and administrative offices across the state, despite clear instructions from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Why Aadhaar Cannot Be Used as Birth Proof
The UIDAI’s Lucknow regional office formally notified the state government that Aadhaar is not a valid document for verifying birth dates.
Aadhaar data was created using three categories:
- Approximate birth dates
- Self-declared dates without documentation
- Document-backed dates
For approximate dates, UIDAI often defaulted to January 1 of the stated year, making Aadhaar unreliable for exact DOB authentication.
UIDAI also stressed that Aadhaar is only a digital identity document, not a nationality or age-proof certificate.
Fresh Orders Sent to Every Department
Amit Singh Bansal, Special Secretary of the Planning Department, issued a statewide directive instructing all departments to:
- Stop accepting Aadhaar as proof of birth date
- Accept only legitimate birth certificates for DOB verification
- Comply fully with UIDAI’s guidelines
The move aims to prevent misuse and ensure documentation consistency across government processes.
What Documents Are Now Mandatory?
Under the amended Registration of Births and Deaths (RBD) Act, 1969:
- Birth certificates must be issued within 21 days of birth (free of charge)
- Delayed certificates require a nominal fee
- Certificates over one year old must be issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate
- Only barcode-enabled digital birth certificates (post-2020) are accepted for authenticity
Why the Clarification Matters
Many institutions—schools, colleges, police departments, and local bodies—had continued demanding Aadhaar for DOB verification, creating confusion. The state’s updated order aims to:
- Prevent fraud
- Maintain accurate demographic records
- Align with national digital verification standards
- Reduce misuse of Aadhaar for unintended purposes
UIDAI reaffirmed that Aadhaar should be used only for identity verification, not age, birth, or citizenship proof.
A Push for Cleaner, Standardised Documentation
The UP government’s latest move underscores a nationwide effort to ensure that Aadhaar remains a secure identity system and that official documents like birth certificates retain their legal primacy.
