Aadhaar Valid as ID, Not as Proof of Birth Date, Clarifies UIDAI

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has clarified that “Aadhaar is a valid proof of identity, but it cannot be used as proof of date of birth.”

The authority said it has received several queries from individuals and organisations seeking clarification on whether Aadhaar can be accepted as an official document to confirm a person’s date of birth. UIDAI noted that different institutions have been interpreting the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, and its related regulations in varying ways, leading to confusion.

UIDAI also said that when someone signs up for or updates their Aadhaar, their date of birth is recorded based on the documents they give. These documents include a birth certificate, an SSLC certificate, a passport, or a date of birth certificate from a Group A Gazetted Officer. However, if a person does not have valid proof of date of birth, the details may be recorded as “declared” or “approximate“.

In cases where only an approximate age is provided, the resident verbally states their age to the enrolment operator. The Aadhaar system then calculates the year of birth, and by default, the date of birth is recorded as January 1 of that year.

UIDAI stated that Aadhaar, whether in physical or electronic form, is accepted as proof of identity, subject to authentication and conditions specified by regulations. Since the date of birth is recorded based on the resident’s self-declaration, in case of any dispute, the responsibility to prove the correct date of birth lies with the individual.

UIDAI further clarified that Aadhaar in any form, including the Aadhaar card, e-Aadhaar, masked Aadhaar, offline Aadhaar XML, and the QR code on the card, can be used as proof of identity and address, along with other acceptable documents, subject to conditions laid down by the authority. However, it should not be treated as proof of date of birth.

For more information, refer to the following clarification: