Dispur: The Assam Cabinet has decided to restrict the issuance of Aadhaar cards for individuals above 18 years of age, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced during a state cabinet briefing on Saturday. The new policy implements a strict age-based cap on new enrollments across the state, while providing specific extensions for vulnerable and historically marginalized groups. Under the revised guidelines, individuals belonging to Scheduled Tribes (ST), Scheduled Castes (SC), and Tea Garden communities will remain eligible to apply for and receive their cards until March 2027.
Alongside the demographic restrictions, the Chief Minister announced a major urban infrastructure development initiative aimed at transforming the state’s capital region. The Assam Cabinet has officially approved the development of a Guwahati Satellite City project, which will be executed under the administrative jurisdiction of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) to manage expanding urban growth.
The policy shift follows a high-level interaction on Friday with NITI Aayog in the national capital involving Chief Ministers and Chief Secretaries of the North Eastern states. During the sessions, Chief Minister Sarma advocated for a new national development framework anchored on “Geographic Equity,” emphasizing that India’s journey towards a developed nation by 2047 must focus on broadening the geography of economic growth to ensure it reaches every region equitably. He noted that the North East has transitioned to the center of national policymaking, creating a strong foundation for rising investor confidence and enhanced infrastructure integration across manufacturing, logistics, renewable energy, and technology.
