Why is Aadhaar not considered a date of birth proof? UIDAI explains

An Aadhaar card is a valid identity proof, but it is not proof of date of birth, clarified the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).

UIDAI, in a social media post, said that the Aadhaar is intended to serve as a proof of identity when used with authentication. However, it is not considered proof of the date of birth itself.

In a detailed clarification document, the UIDAI said that the Aadhaar Act, 2016, “is silent with regard to its acceptance as proof of date of birth.”

Therefore, according to the official notice issued by Sanjeev Yadav, Director, UIDAI, “in the event of a dispute regarding the correctness of the date of birth in Aadhaar, the burden of proof lies with the Aadhaar number holder.”

The notice added that it is up to individual Aadhaar User Agencies (AUAs) and e-KYC User Agencies (KUAs) to determine their own views on the use of Aadhaar for purposes of establishing date of birth.

While the Act is silent on DOB proof, “it does provide for the collection, updating, and maintenance of demographic information, including the date of birth, for authentication queries,” the document clarified.

Why is Aadhaar not considered a date of birth proof?

• Legislative silence: The Aadhaar Act, 2016, specifically states that Aadhaar may be used to establish identity, but remains silent regarding its acceptance as proof of date of birth.
• Legal Standing: Section 4(3) of the Aadhaar Act lists Aadhaar as proof of identity, but does not mention it as proof of date of birth.
• Self-declaration: The date of birth is often recorded based on a self-declaration provided by the resident rather than independently verified primary records.
• Basis of information: During enrolment or updates, the UIDAI records the date of birth simply as "claimed" by the resident, based on submitted documents like birth certificates, passports, or SSLC certificates.
• Approximate recording: If a resident lacks valid supporting documents, the DOB is recorded as "Approximate" or "Declared". In these cases, the system defaults the date to 1 January of the calculated calendar year.
• Limited role of UIDAI: The UIDAI's role is restricted to issuing identification numbers and providing authentication services, not serving as a primary birth registry.

What is the official use of Aadhaar?

“Aadhaar is only a proof of the fact the person who is trying to obtain a subsidy/service by identifying himself on the basis of Aadhaar number is the same person who had enrolled for Aadhaar after providing his biometrics and other documents at the time of his Enrolment,” UIDAI said in a separate memorandum by Assistant Director General, Ashok Kumar.

The official uses of the Aadhaar card, according to the UIDAI, are:

• Primary Purpose: The Supreme Court has established that the purpose of Aadhaar is to ensure positive authentication—verifying that the person seeking a subsidy or service is the same person who enrolled.
• Implementation: The extent to which Aadhaar is used for the delivery of welfare services or other purposes is determined by the implementing agencies, such as State Governments and Central Ministries.
• Prohibited Use: Aadhaar (including physical cards, e-Aadhaar, and masked Aadhaar) may be used as proof of identity or address, but not as proof of date of birth.