Guwahati – Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday said that people above 18 years of age will no longer be eligible for first-time Aadhaar cards in the state, citing concerns over illegal immigration.
Briefing reporters after a Cabinet meeting, Sarma explained that only a one-month window would be given to adults who have not yet enrolled for Aadhaar to apply. Beyond this period, first-time Aadhaar issuance for people over 18 will be restricted.
However, the Chief Minister clarified that members of the Tea Tribes, Scheduled Castes (SC), and Scheduled Tribes (ST) communities above 18 years of age would continue to be eligible for Aadhaar cards for another year.
“The decision to restrict Aadhaar card issuance is aimed at ensuring the authenticity of citizens’ identities,” Sarma said, adding that the move was necessary to address fears of potential illegal immigration from Bangladesh during the past year.
The announcement signals a tightening of identification processes in Assam, where citizenship and migration issues have remained politically sensitive for decades.
