The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) announced on November 26 that over two crore Aadhaar numbers belonging to deceased individuals have been deactivated as part of a nationwide data-cleaning initiative. The move aims to maintain the integrity of the Aadhaar database, prevent potential misuse of identity credentials, and ensure that no subsidies or government benefits are erroneously disbursed to these accounts.
UIDAI has deactivated more than 2 crore Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals as part of a nationwide effort to maintain the continued accuracy of the Aadhaar database.
UIDAI has sourced deceased persons data from Registrar General of India (RGI), States/UTs, Public… pic.twitter.com/IOb0b9JBMY
— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) November 26, 2025
UIDAI carried out these deactivations by cross-checking Aadhaar records against death registrations and other information from the Registrar General of India, state governments, and various central ministries and departments. The authority emphasised that all records are thoroughly validated before deactivation and that it continues to update the database by regularly incorporating official death-registration data.
Family members can report the death of a relative through the myAadhaar portal. To do so, they must authenticate themselves on the portal and provide the deceased’s Aadhaar number, along with the official death registration number and basic details. UIDAI reviews the submission and deactivates the Aadhaar number after verification. The authority has urged families to use the portal once they have the death certificate, helping prevent potential identity fraud.
UIDAI has stated that safeguards are in place, and all death records are thoroughly validated before an Aadhaar number is deactivated. The authority has also issued procedures for reactivating Aadhaar numbers that may have been deactivated in error. Individuals who are alive but mistakenly marked as deceased can apply for reactivation by submitting the prescribed documents for verification.
UIDAI’s initiative to remove Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals began in 2024 and was expanded through 2025. By mid-July this year, over 1.17 crore IDs had been deactivated, increasing to around 1.4 crore by September, as the authority worked toward its year-end target of 2 crore. However, gaps in civil registration systems and inconsistencies in death-record data in certain states have raised concerns among experts about the potential for wrongful deactivations and the difficulties this could create for citizens. UIDAI emphasises that it relies on multiple data sources and layered verification checks to minimise such errors.
Families wishing to report a death promptly are advised to first obtain the official death certificate and then use the myAadhaar portal to submit the Aadhaar number along with the death registration details. UIDAI verifies the submission before proceeding with deactivation. In cases where an Aadhaar number is deactivated in error, the affected individual can follow UIDAI’s reactivation process and provide documentary proof of being alive. The authority has issued clear guidelines for such situations.
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