Assam tightens Aadhaar and birth certificate rules to block illegal immigration

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 27, 2025

The Assam government is preparing to roll out stricter norms for Aadhaar enrolment and birth certificate issuance to curb illegal immigration, particularly from Bangladesh.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, addressing the media after a cabinet meeting in Dispur on Friday, said the government is actively considering legal changes to make Aadhaar registration more restrictive. A final decision is expected in the upcoming cabinet session.

“We are planning to tighten the Aadhaar enrolment process. Adult applicants may soon require direct approval from the District Commissioner,” Sarma said. “The goal is to prevent undocumented immigrants, especially from Bangladesh, from obtaining Indian identity documents.”

Sarma clarified that these measures would not affect legitimate residents, citing communities such as those in tea garden areas as examples. “We are not closing the process entirely. Genuine applicants will still receive Aadhaar. But we want to block access for Bangladeshis,” he said.

The Chief Minister also announced that birth certificates will soon become mandatory for Aadhaar enrolment and that new checks will be introduced to stop fraudulent backdated registrations. Suspect cases will be routed to the DC for verification.

These steps, Sarma explained, are part of a broader legal push to strengthen Assam’s strategy to identify and deport undocumented immigrants. “Just last night, 20 Bangladeshis were pushed back. We are accelerating this effort, and legal backing is necessary to make it sustainable,” he said.

While immigration was the headline issue, the Assam Cabinet also approved a wide range of policy measures aimed at governance, land management, and indigenous community development.

Under Mission Basundhara 3.0, the Cabinet cleared the allotment of government land for 942 infrastructure projects across 11 districts. These projects span multiple state departments and are focused on urban areas.

In a parallel move, the Cabinet approved land settlements for 1,977 non-governmental institutions — including schools, religious bodies, and cultural organizations — across 12 districts. The aim is to support community development through secure land ownership.

Amendments were also passed to the Assam Panchayat (Constitution) Rules, 1995, introducing a transparent system of lottery and rotation for reserving the posts of President and Vice President in Zilla Parishads for SC, ST, and women candidates.

To boost indigenous self-governance, the Cabinet approved amendments to both the Moran Autonomous Council Act and the Matak Autonomous Council Act, revising key clauses and updating their preambles to reflect evolving administrative goals.

Together, the new identity verification policies and cabinet decisions reflect Assam’s dual focus: tightening internal security while accelerating infrastructure growth and inclusive governance.