9 months ago
States Cancel Birth Certificates Based on Aadhaar
The governments of Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh are taking steps to cancel birth and death certificates that were issued using only Aadhaar details.
This is because Aadhaar cards cannot be used as proof of birth.
The Maharashtra government has given officials a special list of 16 checks to follow when looking at these certificates.
They will cancel any certificates that don't have the right papers.
In some areas of Maharashtra, there are more fake certificates than usual, so officials there will check extra carefully.
If someone is found to have a fake certificate, they might face legal trouble.
The Uttar Pradesh Planning Department has also directed all departments to stop using Aadhaar as proof of birth, following a clarification from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Instead, birth certificates, high-school marksheets, and other prescribed documents should be used as proof of birth for official purposes.
Maharashtra is canceling birth and death certificates issued solely based on Aadhaar details or found suspicious.
A 16-point verification checklist has been issued for officials to review certificates issued after 11 August 2023 in Maharashtra.
Strict legal action, including FIRs and absconding declarations, will be taken against those with discrepancies or non-compliance in Maharashtra.
Hotspots with unusually high instances of irregular certificates have been identified for prioritized verification in Maharashtra.
The Uttar Pradesh Planning Department has directed all departments to stop using Aadhaar as proof of birth, following a UIDAI clarification.
Birth certificates, high-school marksheets, and other prescribed documents should be used as proof of birth for official purposes in Uttar Pradesh.
UIDAI had previously clarified that Aadhaar is not proof of birth, but some departments were still accepting it.
- Who
- Maharashtra Revenue Department, Uttar Pradesh Planning Department, UIDAI
- What
- Cancellation of birth and death certificates issued based on Aadhaar, directive against using Aadhaar as birth proof
- Where
- Across Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh
- When
- Action initiated in Maharashtra following a circular issued on Thursday, UIDAI letter dated October 31, 2025
- Why
- To eliminate fraudulent records and ensure accurate proof of birth, protect the integrity of state records
Key facts
- Action Initiated By
- Maharashtra Revenue Department, Uttar Pradesh Planning Department
- Reason
- Aadhaar not valid as proof of birth, concerns over fraud
- Key Officials Involved
- Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, Amit Singh Singhal, UIDAI officials
- Verification Checklist
- 16-point checklist issued in Maharashtra for officials
- Certificates Under Review
- Birth and death certificates issued after 11 August 2023 in Maharashtra
- Hotspots Identified
- Amravati, Sillod, Akola, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Latur, Anjangaon Surji, Achalpur, Pusad, Parbhani, Beed, Georai, Jalna, Ardhapur, Parli in Maharashtra
- Legal Action
- FIRs to be registered for discrepancies, absconding declarations for non-compliance in Maharashtra
- Government Statement
- Aadhaar cannot be treated as proof of date or place of birth
- UIDAI Directive
- Letter dated October 31, 2025, clarifying Aadhaar is not proof of birth
- Acceptable Proofs
- Birth certificate, high-school marksheets, and other prescribed documents
Timeline
Unauthorized activities at Niloufer Hospital sparked probe into regulatory compliance.
Fake certificates from Metro Hospital exposed, leading to cancellations.
Over 1,000 fake Mumbai birth certificates found, triggering cancellations.
103 illegal Mumbai birth certificates discovered, more cancellations follow.
Maharashtra cracks down on suspicious certificates to halt voter fraud.
Quotes
Vijay Balamwar
Officer on Special Duty (Elections) at the BMC
“As per the SEC's instructions, if there are any clerical errors (name, gender, typos) in the published draft voter list, voters from another ward are included by mistake or their names are not included in the respective ward despite their names being in the Assembly Voter List dated 1 July 2025, if the names of deceased persons are found in the voter list or if any objections or suggestions are received regarding the same, then it should be recorded in the ‘Mark Copy’”
freepressjournal.in
“If such matters are brought to our notice either on their own or through other means, it should be taken into immediate notice. Those errors should be corrected while preparing the ward-wise final voter list. It should be checked whether the concerned voters have been included in the correct ward or not. If the voters have been included in the wrong ward, then those voters should be included in the correct ward.”
freepressjournal.in
Sources
45,000 Duplicate Voter Entries In Navi Mumbai, Says MNS; Party Flags Massive Discrepancies In Draft Rolls
‘Aadhaar can’t be accepted as proof of date of birth’: UP issues directions to all departments
Maha orders cancellation of Aadhaar-based birth, death certificates
SIR: Those Who Don’t Fill Forms will be Dropped from List
Maharashtra Govt Cancels Birth Certificates Issued Using Only Aadhaar; Orders Strict Scrutiny Of Delayed Registrations
5 stories you must read today, November 28: From ‘Aadhaar not proof of DOB’ to Trump pausing immigration from ‘Third World Countries’ and more
Maharashtra Moves To Cancel Suspicious Birth & Death Certificates Amid Voter List Concerns
Maharashtra Cancels Aadhaar-Based Birth Certificates Amid Fake Document Probe
Maharashtra Minister Bawankule launches state-wide drive against birth certificate fraud
Maharashtra: Crackdown to cancel birth and death certificates issued solely based on Aadhaar card
