India’s Aadhaar system, the backbone of its identity framework, is facing a significant challenge: millions of Aadhaar numbers linked to deceased individuals remain active, raising concerns about potential misuse and data accuracy. According to a recent Right to Information (RTI) response obtained by India Today TV, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has deactivated only about 1.17 crore Aadhaar numbers of deceased persons over the past 14 years, a figure that starkly contrasts with the more than 16 crore deaths recorded in the same period.
As of June 2025, India boasts 142.39 crore Aadhaar holders, a number that exceeds 97% of the country's total population of approximately 146.39 crore, as reported by the United Nations Population Fund in April 2025. Yet, the deactivation of Aadhaar cards following death lags far behind, with less than 10% of estimated deaths resulting in deactivation. This discrepancy highlights a critical gap in the identity management system, with implications that ripple across governance, social welfare, and electoral processes.
The UIDAI, established in 2009 and having issued its first Aadhaar number on September 29, 2010, relies heavily on external data sources to update and deactivate Aadhaar numbers. Specifically, the deactivation process depends on death records shared by the Registrar General of India (RGI). According to the UIDAI’s RTI reply, “As and when RGI shares death records information along with Aadhaar numbers to UIDAI; UIDAI, after due process, deactivates the Aadhaar number of the deceased Aadhaar holders.”
However, the process is complicated and slow. It requires death certificates issued by state governments and updates from family members, making it vulnerable to delays and inaccuracies. The UIDAI admits that it does not maintain separate records of Aadhaar holders who have died, meaning many Aadhaar numbers linked to deceased individuals remain active in the system. This situation has raised fears about the misuse of these identities, particularly in welfare schemes and subsidy disbursements.
In August 2023, the UIDAI issued revised guidelines to streamline the deactivation process. These guidelines mandate a stringent matching process where death records are verified against the Aadhaar database, requiring at least a 90% name match accuracy and a 100% gender match. If these criteria are met, the UIDAI checks whether the Aadhaar number has been used for biometric authentication or any updates after the recorded date of death. Only if no such activity is detected is the Aadhaar number deactivated. If post-death activity is found, further verification is conducted to prevent wrongful deactivation.
Despite these measures, the UIDAI does not maintain year-wise data on deactivations, making it difficult to track progress or identify bottlenecks. The total number of Aadhaar numbers deactivated based on death reports from the RGI until December 31, 2024, stands at 1,14,69,869. This figure is alarmingly low compared to the average annual deaths of 83.5 lakh recorded by the Civil Registration System (CRS) between 2007 and 2019.
The data inconsistency is further underscored by the phenomenon of Aadhaar saturation rates exceeding 100% in several districts of Bihar, including Kishanganj (126%), Katihar and Araria (123% each), Purnia (121%), and Sheikhpura (118%). Aadhaar saturation refers to the percentage of a region’s projected population holding Aadhaar numbers. Rates above 100% suggest duplication, inaccuracies in population estimates, migration effects, or failure to remove deceased individuals from the database. The UIDAI itself acknowledges that when Aadhaar numbers of deceased persons are not promptly deactivated, they inflate local saturation figures, sometimes resulting in more Aadhaar holders than actual residents.
Recognizing these challenges, the central government has confirmed that the UIDAI is developing technical solutions aimed at automating updates and improving data accuracy. Government sources told India Today that one proposal involves integrating Aadhaar data with the RGI’s death records through API-based connections, enabling real-time sharing and automatic deactivation. Since 2022, the UIDAI has formally requested the RGI to share death records linked with Aadhaar numbers. So far, approximately 1.55 crore death records from 24 States and Union Territories have been shared with the UIDAI.
Following data verification and matching, around 1.17 crore Aadhaar numbers have been deactivated from these shared records. Additionally, about 6.7 lakh death records are currently being processed for deactivation. The UIDAI is also exploring data sourcing from banks and other Aadhaar-linked institutions that maintain death records, aiming to expand the reach and reliability of its updates.
In a bid to encourage public participation, the UIDAI launched a new feature in June 2025 called “Reporting of Death of a Family Member.” This feature allows individuals to voluntarily report deaths, helping the authority update its records more promptly. This initiative reflects a broader strategy to involve citizens in maintaining the integrity of the Aadhaar database.
However, despite these efforts, the issue remains a significant concern. The RTI response from the UIDAI admits that the deactivation process is cumbersome and heavily reliant on external inputs, which often delay the removal of deceased individuals from the system. This lag not only undermines the accuracy of population data but also opens the door to potential fraud, where identities of deceased persons could be exploited for financial gain or unauthorized access to government benefits.
Experts warn that the persistence of “Aadhaar ghosts” — active Aadhaar numbers linked to deceased persons — could erode public trust in the system and complicate governance. They emphasize the need for robust, automated mechanisms that minimize human intervention and errors. The integration of biometric authentication checks and stricter data matching criteria are steps in the right direction, but the scale of the problem demands accelerated implementation and continuous monitoring.
Moreover, the lack of year-wise deactivation data limits transparency and accountability. Without granular data, it is challenging to assess the effectiveness of current policies or identify regions where the problem is most acute. This gap calls for improved data management practices and regular public reporting to build confidence and foster corrective action.
The Aadhaar system, despite its monumental role in India’s digital identity landscape, faces a critical test in balancing inclusivity with accuracy. The challenge of deactivating Aadhaar numbers linked to deceased individuals underscores the complexities of managing a database that covers over a billion people in a dynamic, populous country.
As UIDAI moves forward with technological upgrades and policy refinements, the success of these initiatives will depend on seamless collaboration between government agencies, technological innovation, and active citizen engagement. Only then can India ensure that its Aadhaar system remains a reliable foundation for identity verification and service delivery in the years ahead.
