Manipur has implemented what a UIDAI official described as "perhaps the most stringent" Aadhaar enrollment process for adults in the country. This observation was made during a high-level meeting held at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday, where Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla reviewed Aadhaar enrollment, upgrades, and service delivery within the state. The meeting included senior officials from the Home Department, UIDAI, Social Welfare, and Education Departments, along with Chief Secretary Prashant Kumar Singh and Commissioner (Home) N. Ashok Kumar.
Commissioner Kumar stated that Manipur has adopted stringent norms for Aadhaar issuance to ensure that no illegal foreigners can obtain Aadhaar cards. The high-quality checks and thorough scrutiny are designed to prevent the misuse of identity and maintain the security and integrity of the Aadhaar ecosystem. The stringent process adheres to guidelines set by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). According to officials, every adult Aadhaar application undergoes detailed verification, with approvals granted exclusively at the state headquarters by the Special Secretary (Home).
The enhanced scrutiny aims to prevent illegal foreign nationals from obtaining Aadhaar cards, thus ensuring the integrity and security of the identification system in the state. Illegal immigration and the use of fake Aadhaar cards have been significant issues in Manipur. In June 2024, a large-scale racket involving the issuance of fake Aadhaar and voter ID cards to illegal immigrants in Manipur was uncovered. Furthermore, a Myanmarese national arrested in Mizoram in June 2025 for drug trafficking was found to be carrying an Aadhaar card issued in Manipur.
To further reinforce the security of the Aadhaar system, Manipur is strictly implementing two mandatory biometric updates. The Mandatory Biometric Updation-1 (MBU-1) is required between the ages of 5 and 7, while MBU-2 is required after the age of 15. These updates are provided free of charge to ensure that biometric and demographic data remains accurate throughout an individual's lifetime. These updates enhance security and provide seamless access to government schemes and financial services by eliminating authentication issues.
In April 2025, the Government of Manipur issued a directive to prevent the issuance of multiple birth certificates and to limit corrections to the date of birth in Aadhaar records. The directive instructed the Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (RD&PR), Municipal Administration, Housing & Urban Development (MAHUD), and Health & Family Welfare departments to issue strict guidelines to all birth certificate issuing authorities. The aim is to prevent the issuance of multiple birth certificates, and if a new certificate is issued, the previously issued one must be cancelled to prevent duplication and potential misuse. The Governor of Manipur has mandated thorough verification of the date of birth before Aadhaar registration, with no changes permitted afterward.
In December 2024, UIDAI raised concerns about irregularities in the issuance and cancellation of birth certificates in Manipur, which were impacting the Aadhaar update process. UIDAI cautioned that continuous violation of guidelines could lead to the rejection of date of birth update requests from the state in the future. The regional office of UIDAI emphasized the importance of adhering to "The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969," and noted that Manipur did not always follow the procedure to officially cancel previously issued birth certificates.
