The Government of Manipur has implemented the most stringent Aadhaar enrolment and verification procedures in the country. The new protocol aims to ensure that only genuine residents receive Aadhaar cards, with special attention to preventing illegal immigrants from securing Indian identity credentials.
The development was confirmed during a high-level review meeting held on Tuesday at the Raj Bhawan, chaired by the Governor of Manipur. The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, senior officers from the Home Department, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), and officials from the Social Welfare and Education Departments.
According to officials, every Aadhaar application by an adult in Manipur now requires approval at the State Headquarters, specifically through the Special Secretary (Home). A UIDAI representative noted that this level of scrutiny makes Manipur’s system the most rigorous in India, serving as a critical line of defense against identity fraud and illegal entry.
“This multi-layered verification ensures that Aadhaar is not misused. We are committed to safeguarding the identity infrastructure of the state,” an official stated.
In addition to adult enrolments, the state has taken steps to ensure accuracy and validity of Aadhaar among minors by enforcing two mandatory biometric updates:
MBU-1: For children between the ages of 5 and 7 years
MBU-2: For individuals above the age of 15
These biometric updates are free of cost and are necessary to keep Aadhaar records accurate. Officials emphasized that failure to update biometric and demographic details in time could lead to complications in availing government benefits and financial services.
“The Aadhaar system must reflect a person’s current biometric and biographic data,” said an official from the Social Welfare Department. “Without this, authentication becomes unreliable, and services can be disrupted.”
The meeting also discussed strategies to increase public awareness about the update requirements and the importance of timely verification. Special camps and help desks are being planned in urban and rural areas to assist citizens with updates and new enrolments.
The state government has reiterated its zero-tolerance stance on identity fraud, especially in the wake of rising concerns over demographic changes and illegal immigration. The new policy is being seen as a benchmark in Aadhaar governance and could influence other states to adopt similar stringent measures.
