Guwahati, 21 August (HS): The Assam government has decided to halt Aadhaar enrolment for first-time applicants above 18 years of age, except in the case of certain communities. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma explained that the move aims to prevent illegal immigrants from securing citizenship-linked documents through Aadhaar.

According to Thursday’s cabinet decision, only one month—September—will remain open for adult citizens who have never registered for Aadhaar to complete the process. Beyond this deadline, Aadhaar cards will be issued only in “rare and rarest cases” after detailed scrutiny by district commissioners. Each such application will require reports from the Special Branch and the Foreigners Tribunal before approval.

Exemptions, however, have been granted. Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes and tea garden workers above 18 will face no immediate restrictions and may apply for Aadhaar cards until next year.

“The state government has sealed all possible ways for illegal foreigners to obtain Aadhaar in Assam,” Sarma told reporters, highlighting that cross-border infiltration remains a pressing challenge. He further added that Assam has been actively pushing back Bangladeshi nationals and the latest measure strengthens safeguards against unauthorised documentation.

By shifting responsibility to district commissioners, the government seeks to tighten control. “The DC will check the SB report and Foreigners Tribunal report before issuing Aadhaar card,” the chief minister emphasised.

Assam’s geographical location—sharing a long boundary with Bangladesh—combined with its history of demographic shifts, has kept immigration a sensitive political and social issue. The new Aadhaar policy marks the latest in a series of steps, including the National Register of Citizens (NRC), to monitor and manage the problem of illegal migration.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Sriprakash