The Assam Cabinet approved a policy restricting Aadhaar enrollment for residents above 18 as part of a broader effort officials say targets illegal immigration and duplicate identity records.
State ministers argued that unchecked issuance of universal ID numbers had enabled undocumented migrants to access welfare schemes and voting rolls.
Civil liberties groups warned the move could disenfranchise genuine citizens lacking legacy documents, particularly among linguistic and religious minorities in border districts.
The policy requires linkage with state residency verification databases before new Aadhaar cards are processed for adults.
Legal challenges are likely once implementing orders reach local enrollment centers, where long queues have already formed ahead of the announced restrictions.
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Sources:
https://indianexpress.com/archive/2026/06/13/page/5/