Addressing reporters during a Cabinet briefing in Guwahati, Sarma said the state government has resolved not to provide Aadhaar cards to any person above 18 years of age. He added that members of Scheduled Tribes, Scheduled Castes, and tea garden communities will continue to receive Aadhaar cards until March 2027.
Under the new mechanism, any exceptional request for Aadhaar issuance to an adult will require the District Commissioner to submit a proposal to the state government. The government will then examine the case and determine whether the applicant is eligible to receive the document.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Sarma said Aadhaar enrolment in Assam has already reached a saturation point. According to him, Aadhaar coverage has crossed the 100 per cent mark in some districts, prompting the government to investigate the identities of those obtaining additional Aadhaar registrations. He said the measure is intended to ensure that illegal migrants from Bangladesh do not secure Aadhaar cards.
The Chief Minister clarified that Aadhaar cards will continue to be issued to individuals below the age of 18.
Sarma further announced that the restriction will become a complete ban from April 1, 2027. From that date, even adults belonging to tea garden communities and Scheduled Tribes will no longer be eligible to receive Aadhaar cards.
The announcement follows earlier statements by the Chief Minister indicating that the Assam government would adopt a stricter approach to Aadhaar issuance. Last year, Sarma said the state was considering tighter rules for issuing Aadhaar cards to adults as part of its campaign to curb illegal immigration from Bangladesh.
The decision also reflects the broader political position taken by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his election campaign in Assam in March. Shah had urged voters to grant the Bharatiya Janata Party another five years in power, stating that the government would identify every infiltrator and remove them from the state. He had described illegal immigrants as a threat to the employment opportunities, food resources, and land rights of indigenous Assamese communities.
The latest Cabinet decision marks one of Assam's most significant administrative measures aimed at tightening identity verification procedures and strengthening efforts to prevent illegal immigration, a politically sensitive issue that has remained central to the state's governance and electoral discourse.
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