Even though the Aadhaar card holds a person’s personal information and biometric details like fingerprints and retina scans, it still isn’t legally considered proof that someone is an Indian citizen.
Ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in Bihar, a detailed review of the voter list has raised serious questions about people’s citizenship. Similar checks are also happening in Delhi-NCR, where police and government agencies are verifying the citizenship of suspicious individuals. During this process, even many well-settled residents are struggling to prove their citizenship.
Documents not accepted as proof of citizenship
The Election Commission has made it clear that some commonly used documents like: Aadhaar card, ration card and voter ID card do not count as proof of citizenship. This means people cannot use these documents to get their names added to the new voter list in Bihar. These rules also apply in other states.
People in remote areas facing the most trouble
Because of these new rules, many people living in rural and remote areas of Bihar are finding it very difficult to register themselves in the new voter list. This has created confusion and added stress for those trying to prove they are Indian citizens.
The Election Commission has launched a special review drive in Bihar to update the voter list, but the process has now led to confusion and political tension. The issue: proving citizenship.
The Election Commission has listed 11 specific documents that are accepted as proof of citizenship during this review.
These 11 documents are accepted as proof of citizenship:
- ID or pension papers issued to regular employees or pensioners of the central/state government or public sector companies.
- Any official ID or certificate issued by government or public institutions before 1 July 1987.
- Birth certificate issued by a competent authority.
- Passport
- Educational certificates issued by a recognised board or university (like matriculation certificates).
- Permanent residence certificate issued by a state authority.
- Forest rights certificate
- Caste certificates (OBC/SC/ST) issued by an authorised official.
- National Register of Citizens (NRC) – where applicable.
- Family register made by local or state authorities.
- Land or house allotment certificate issued by the government.
Political reactions
Opposition parties in Bihar have strongly criticized the move, saying it is being used to target and harass people ahead of the elections. They claim the process is unfair and causes unnecessary stress, especially for poor and uneducated citizens.
What documents are needed to get an Aadhaar Card?
- Passport
- PAN Card
- Voter ID Card
- Driving Licence
- Ration Card / PDS Photo Card
- Photo ID issued by Government or Public Sector Unit (PSU)
Aadhaar is not a proof of citizenship
It might seem surprising, but the documents that are accepted to prove someone’s citizenship in India like a passport, birth certificate, or matriculation certificate are actually the same documents used to get an Aadhaar card. Yet, Aadhaar itself is not accepted as proof of citizenship.
Even though the Aadhaar card holds a person’s personal information and biometric details like fingerprints and retina scans, it still isn’t legally considered proof that someone is an Indian citizen.
The government agency that issues Aadhaar UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) has clearly stated that Aadhaar is only meant to verify identity, not nationality. Once someone has an Aadhaar card, they can use it to digitally verify their identity for things like opening a bank account or getting a driving licence, without having to show their identity documents every time.
