UP Govt Announces Major Change as Aadhaar Card Is No Longer Valid as Date of Birth Proof

Uttar Pradesh: While issuing a new order, the Uttar Pradesh government has clearly said that the Aadhaar card will no longer be accepted as proof of date of birth. According to the government, the date of birth recorded in Aadhaar is not officially verified; hence, it is not possible to treat it as a solid and reliable document. This decision will be applicable to all departments of the state, and Aadhaar will not be considered as DOB proof in any government process.

Why did the government reject Aadhaar as proof of date of birth?

It has come to light in the government order that while making an Aadhaar card, the date of birth is often recorded as per the information given by the person. In many cases no proof is sought, nor is there any official verification of the date of birth. In such a situation, the possibility of confusion and wrong information increases in subsequent processes. For this reason, the government acknowledged that Aadhaar is not a secure document to prove date of birth.

Now, which will be considered as the correct proof of date of birth?

The state government has directed that henceforth only those documents will be valid in which the date of birth is officially recorded and verified. These include a birth certificate, school records, a high school marksheet, and a certificate issued by the municipal body or health department. These documents will be considered as a reliable basis for proving age. The government has also clarified that any document containing a self-declared or estimated date of birth will not be trusted.

Which processes will be affected by this decision?

From government jobs to pensions, scholarships, licenses, government schemes, and school and college admissions—processes that require age verification—Aadhaar will no longer be proof of date of birth. In such cases, only those documents will be accepted in which the date of birth is clear and as per government records.

Will other uses of the Aadhaar card be affected?

The government has also said that there will be no impact on the ability to establish the identity of the Aadhaar card. The processes related to identification, address, and identity verification will continue as before. The change has been made only in the category of proof of date of birth. The government argues that this step was necessary to increase the credibility of the documents and prevent any kind of irregularities.