The Indian government has made some big changes to the Aadhaar card system. These new rules came into effect recently, and they are very important for all people who have or want to get an Aadhaar card. The Unique Identification Authority of India, or UIDAI, brought these updates to make things safer and easier. Many people use Aadhaar for bank accounts, mobile numbers, and government services, so knowing these rules can help avoid problems. In this article, we will talk about the five main new rules in simple words. These changes started from July 2025, and some more will come in November.
Why These New Rules Are Coming Now
The government wants to stop fake Aadhaar cards and make sure everyone’s details are correct. Before, there were old rules from 2016, but now they have changed them with the Aadhaar Enrolment and Update First Amendment Regulations 2025. This means better checks on documents and how to handle if someone has more than one Aadhaar number. For example, if you have multiple Aadhaar cards by mistake, the government will keep only the first one with your fingerprint or eye scan details. The others will be cancelled. This helps in keeping the system clean and stops wrong use. People who live in India, including children and foreigners with special visas, need to follow these to update or get new cards.
New Ways to Enrol and Update for Adults and Kids
For grown-ups and kids above five years, the list of papers you can use has become wider but stricter. You can now use things like your PAN card, voter ID, or driving licence to prove who you are and where you live. Bills for electricity, water, or phone that are not older than three months are also okay for address proof. But remember, the papers must be real and can be checked online or by officers. For kids under five, the family head can enrol them using birth certificate or passport. If a child is in a shelter home or orphanage, a special certificate from the head of that place is needed. These changes make it simpler for families but harder for fakes.
Special Rules for Changing Name, Date of Birth, or Gender
If you want to change your name, date of birth, or gender on Aadhaar, there are new steps. For name change, you need a government notice called gazette notification along with your old ID. For gender change, a doctor’s certificate is must. And for date of birth, especially for kids up to 18 years, only a birth certificate from the state office will work. No other paper is allowed for this now. Also, if you are changing date of birth in special cases, you have to give a self-promise note with the birth certificate. These rules are to make sure changes are real and not for cheating.
Handling Multiple Cards and Online Updates
One big new rule is about people who got more than one Aadhaar by error. The government says they will keep the oldest one that has your body scan details like fingerprints. All others will be removed. This is good because it stops confusion in services. From November 2025, you can change your name, address, mobile number, or date of birth online without going to any Aadhaar centre. This will save time and make things easy for busy people. But you still need to upload right papers on the UIDAI website. If you miss updating old details, there might be fees after certain dates, like the free update ended in June 2025.
What You Should Do Next to Stay Safe
Now that these rules are here, everyone should check their Aadhaar details soon. Go to the UIDAI website or app and see if everything is correct. If not, update it quickly to avoid trouble with banks or government help. For foreigners or OCI people, they need their passport or visa papers along with other IDs. Remember, Aadhaar is free to get, but updates might cost if not done on time. By knowing these five rules, you can keep your life smooth. If you have questions, visit a nearby Aadhaar centre or call the helpline.
Here is a small table showing the five main new rules:
| Rule Number | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 | Updated list of documents for getting or changing Aadhaar, like using PAN or bills for proof. |
| 2 | For kids under 5, use birth certificate or special form from family head or shelter home. |
| 3 | Must have birth certificate for date of birth changes in children up to 18 years. |
| 4 | If multiple Aadhaar cards, keep only the first one with biometrics and cancel others. |
| 5 | From November, change details like name or address online without visiting centres. |
These rules are making Aadhaar stronger for all Indians. (Word count: 578)