**Executive Summary**
This report addresses questions regarding the updating and verification of death records to prevent misuse of Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals. It outlines the procedures and data sources used by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to deactivate Aadhaar numbers following a death. The report specifies that 2 crore Aadhaar numbers have been deactivated due to reported deaths. The date of the report is 10.12.2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Aadhaar System:**
* Aadhaar is the world's largest biometric identity system with approximately 134 crore live Aadhaar holders.
* **UIDAI's Measures for Death Record Updates:**
* UIDAI proactively obtains death records containing Aadhaar numbers from various sources.
* **Sources of Death Records:**
* Civil Registration System (CRS) of Registrar General of India (RGI).
* Death records received from non-CRS States / UTs.
* Other sources (Public Distribution System database, National Social Assistance Program database, Banks etc.).
* Reports on UIDAI's portal - ‘myAadhaar' under the service “Reporting of Death of a Family Member".
* **Data Processing and Deactivation:**
* Death records are matched and verified against the Aadhaar database.
* Corresponding Aadhaar numbers are deactivated after due validation per the Aadhaar Act and its Regulations.
* UIDAI has deactivated approximately 2 crore Aadhaar numbers on account of death of Aadhaar number holders.
* 453 Aadhaar numbers have been deactivated based on requests from family members of the deceased.
* **Data for Population and Death Figures:**
* UIDAI uses data published by Registrar General of India for projected population and estimated death figures for each State/UT.
* **Aadhaar Count by State/UT:**
* The count of Aadhaar numbers in a particular State/UT is determined based on the address of Aadhaar holders as recorded in the Aadhaar database.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: UIDAI**
* **Impact:** The UIDAI is responsible for implementing and maintaining the system for updating and verifying death records and deactivating Aadhaar numbers accordingly.
* **Action Required:** Continue to proactively collect death records from multiple sources, match and verify them against the Aadhaar database, and deactivate Aadhaar numbers upon validation, adhering to the Aadhaar Act and its Regulations.
**Stakeholder: State/UT Chief Registrars of Births & Deaths**
* **Impact:** Their systems (CRS) are a primary source of data for UIDAI's death record updates.
* **Action Required:** Ensure accurate and timely reporting of death records to UIDAI.
**Stakeholder: Family Members/Next of Kin of Deceased Individuals**
* **Impact:** They can report the death of a family member through UIDAI's portal.
* **Action Required:** Report the death of family members using the ‘myAadhaar' portal for Aadhaar deactivation.
**Stakeholder: Service Providers (Banks, PDS, NSPA, etc.)**
* **Impact:** Provide data to assist with death record verification and prevention of misuse.
* **Action Required:** Provide death records and data that they have, where available to UIDAI to assist with verification.
Key Entities Referenced
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI): The authority responsible for issuing Aadhaar numbers and maintaining the Aadhaar database; central to updating and verifying death records to prevent misuse of Aadhaar.
Aadhaar Act: The law governing the Aadhaar program, under which Aadhaar numbers are deactivated after validation against death records.
Aadhaar: India's biometric identity system, which the policy focuses on preventing misuse of after a person's death.
Civil Registration System (CRS): A system used by the Registrar General of India (RGI) to obtain death records.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1798
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 10.12.2025
UPDATION AND VERIFICATION OF DEATH RECORDS
1798. SHRI M K RAGHAVAN:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether a mechanism exists for automatic updating and verification of death records between the
State/UT Chief Registrars of Births & Deaths and UIDAI to prevent misuse of Aadhaar of deceased
persons;
(b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) the number of Aadhaar numbers cancelled on account of death during the last five years, including
a break-up of cancellations initiated on requests from family members/next of kin and those initiated
suo motu by UIDAI, State/UT-wise;
(d) whether there have been instances in any State/UT where the number of Aadhaar holders exceeds
the total population of that State/UT; and
(e) if so, the details thereof including the details of population data sources were used by UIDAI for
such findings?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (e): Aadhaar is the world's largest biometric identity system with approximately 134 crores live
Aadhaar holders.
To enhance the accuracy and integrity of the Aadhaar database, Unique Identification Authority of India
(UIDAI) has proactively taken measures to obtain death records containing Aadhaar number from various
sources, such as:
1. Civil Registration System (CRS) of Registrar General of India (RGI);
2. Death records received from non-CRS States / UTs;
3. Other sources like Public Distribution System database, National Social Assistance Program
database, Banks etc.;
4. Cases reported on UIDAI’s portal- ‘myAadhaar’ under the service “Reporting of Death of a Family
Member”.
These death records are then matched and verified against the Aadhaar database, and the corresponding
Aadhaar numbers are deactivated after due validation in accordance with the provisions of the Aadhaar
Act and its Regulations.UIDAI has deactivated approximately 2 crore Aadhaar numbers on account of death of Aadhaar number
holders, out of which 453 Aadhaar numbers have been deactivated based on requests from family
members of the deceased.
UIDAI uses the data published by Registrar General of India for obtaining the projected population and
estimated death figures for every State/UT.
The count of Aadhaar numbers in a particular State/UT is determined based on the address of Aadhaar
holders as recorded in the Aadhaar database.
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