A recent RTI application submitted by India Today TV has brought to light a surprising reality regarding Aadhaar cards in the country.Since the Aadhaar program started 14 years ago, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has deactivated only 1.15 crore Aadhaar numbers. This number is very low when we look at how many people have died in India during this period.

As of June 2025, there are 142.39 crore Aadhaar holders in India. According to the United Nations Population Fund, India’s total population was 146.39 crore in April 2025. According to official data from the Civil Registration System (CRS), around 83.5 lakh people passed away each year in India between 2007 and 2019. If we consider these yearly numbers, there should have been many more Aadhaar numbers deactivated by now.

However, only less than 10% of the estimated total deaths have led to the cancellation of Aadhaar numbers. This shows a big gap in the system. Officials say that the process of deactivating Aadhaar numbers is not easy. It depends heavily on information like death certificates provided by state governments or updates given by family members of the deceased.

Moreover, the UIDAI has confirmed that it does not keep a separate record of Aadhaar holders who have died but still have active Aadhaar numbers. This raises serious concerns about possible misuse. If a dead person’s Aadhaar remains active, it could be wrongly used to get government subsidies, pensions, and benefits. This can cause financial loss to the government and also create problems for genuine beneficiaries.

Experts say this situation clearly shows the need for better coordination between the death registration system and the Aadhaar database. If these systems are linked properly, Aadhaar numbers of deceased persons can be automatically deactivated, preventing fraud and leakage of welfare benefits.

Overall, this issue shows the importance of maintaining accurate and updated records in large-scale identity programs like Aadhaar. Improving this process will help ensure that government schemes reach the right people and reduce the chances of identity fraud.