THEBUSINESSBYTES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
FEBRUARY 6, 2026
The
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has issued a detailed
clarification following reports and social media claims that Aadhaar numbers of
some Odisha residents were deactivated after being erroneously marked as
deceased. The authority emphasized that such instances are unintentional and
assured that a robust and expedited grievance redressal mechanism is in place
to resolve the issue at the earliest.
UIDAI
stated that it has deactivated more than two crore Aadhaar numbers across the
country as part of a nationwide database clean-up exercise aimed at enhancing
accuracy and preventing identity fraud. These deactivations primarily pertain
to Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals, based on information received from
various official repositories that maintain records of deaths. The move is
intended to curb the misuse of Aadhaar credentials for unauthorised access to
welfare schemes and other benefits.
However,
UIDAI acknowledged that in a limited number of cases, discrepancies in source
databases or the inadvertent sharing of inaccurate information may have led to
the wrongful deactivation of Aadhaar numbers belonging to living individuals.
Addressing concerns raised in Odisha, the authority clarified that such errors
are neither systemic nor targeted, and corrective measures are being taken
promptly wherever grievances are reported.
Reiterating
its commitment to citizen convenience, UIDAI highlighted that affected Aadhaar
Number Holders can approach the UIDAI State Office in Bhubaneswar for immediate
assistance. Complaints related to wrongful deactivation are being handled on a
fast-track basis to ensure minimal inconvenience to residents, especially those
dependent on Aadhaar-linked services and benefits.
UIDAI
also urged citizens not to panic or rely on unverified reports, advising them
instead to contact official UIDAI channels for accurate information and
support.
