Summary of this article
UIDAI clarified Aadhaar not proof of citizenship or birth.
Directive ensures uniform Aadhaar usage across government departments.
Aadhaar update charges revised; online updates free till 2026.
Aadhaar has become a vital identification document in India, facilitating access to government schemes, financial services and several administrative processes. The Department of Posts has issued a directive from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to make uniform understanding and adherence across departments.
Clarifications on Aadhaar Usage
In a recent circular, the Department of Posts shared clarifications received from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on the official usage of Aadhaar. The directive stated that “an Aadhaar number may be used for establishing the identity of the holder through authentication or offline verification.”
At the same time, the UIDAI made it clear that Aadhaar should not be treated as proof of citizenship or domicile. The circular noted that authentication of an Aadhaar number does not serve as evidence of nationality.
It further added that “the Aadhaar number is not a proof of date of birth and hence must not be used for conclusively establishing the date of birth of the Aadhaar holder.” The clarification notes the need for consistent adherence to UIDAI’s guidelines and aims to prevent the document’s misuse for purposes beyond identity verification.
UIDAI Revises Aadhaar Update Charges
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has revised Aadhaar update charges for the first time in nearly five years. The new pricing structure came into effect from October 1, 2025 and will be effective until September 30, 2028. After that, it will be revised again.
Under the revised rates, updating demographic details such as name, address, or date of birth now costs Rs 75, up from Rs 50 earlier. Biometric updates like fingerprint, iris, or photograph are priced at Rs 125, which will rise to Rs 150 from October 2028. The fee for document updates at enrolment centres has also been increased to Rs 75, while such updates remain free on the myAadhaar portal until June 14, 2026.
