Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday, August 21, announced that the state will suspend the issuance of new Aadhaar cards to individuals above the age of 18 for one year.
The decision, he said, is aimed at preventing illegal immigrants—particularly Bangladeshi nationals—from securing Indian identity documents through Aadhaar.
Exceptions will apply to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), and tea garden workers, communities where Aadhaar coverage already stands at about 96 per cent. People from other communities who have not yet enrolled will be given a final chance to apply during September 2025.
After that, fresh Aadhaar enrollment will be barred, except in rare cases, and only with the approval of the District Commissioner following verification by the Special Branch of Assam Police and the Foreigners’ Tribunal.
Officials noted that Assam has already surpassed 100 per cent Aadhaar saturation, highlighting the urgency of the move.
Sarma framed the measure as part of his government’s broader push to safeguard the state’s demographic balance and strengthen border control mechanisms.
