Aadhaar's Shrinking Identity

When the Aadhaar card was introduced in 2009, it was hailed as a revolutionary step towards inclusive governance. For the first time in independent India, there was a promise of a universal, biometric-based identification system that would bring every citizen—especially the poor and undocumented—into the fold of formal recognition. The issuance of the first Aadhaar card to Ranjna Sadashiv Sonwane of Nandurbar, Maharashtra, in September 2010 was a symbolic moment. Until then, identity documents like passports, ration cards, or government IDs were privileges enjoyed by the few. Aadhaar promised a levelling effect. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) took on the mammoth task of collecting fingerprints and iris scans from over a billion people, despite formidable hurdles like lack of electricity and internet connectivity in remote parts of India.

Legal and administrative challenges dogged Aadhaar from the start. Many saw it as an infringement of their privacy, for the card had intensely personal biometric details which could be dangerous in the hands of third parties. It was only in 2016, with the passage of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, that the scheme acquired formal legislative backing. In the years that followed, Aadhaar became a near-mandatory prerequisite for accessing government benefits, opening bank accounts, securing SIM cards, and even getting school admissions. For the poor and undocumented, possessing an Aadhaar card was not just a rite of passage—it was a source of dignity. Many believed it confirmed their place in India as citizens. That illusion was slowly shattered when it became clear that Aadhaar is only a proof of identity and residence—not of citizenship. Even foreign nationals living in India could apply for Aadhaar! Over time, various government and private institutions began accepting Aadhaar as proof of age. That is, until the Supreme Court intervened, clarifying that Aadhaar is not valid for establishing age.

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Now, the Union government has gone a step further by stating that Aadhaar, PAN, and ration cards are not proof of Indian citizenship. This clarification has had tangible effects. In Delhi, the police cited it while identifying and deporting Rohingya and Bangladeshi migrants. The Election Commission in Bihar, during its ongoing revision of voter rolls, has refused to accept Aadhaar as a valid citizenship document. Even the Prime Minister’s own security protocols give priority to voter IDs and driving licences, not Aadhaar. Today, Aadhaar remains useful for railway and air travel bookings and hotel stays, but its original promise has been diluted. Once envisioned as a passport to full participation in the nation’s life, it is now little more than a residency tag—far removed from the transformative document it was touted to be.