Manipur has instituted India’s most rigorous Aadhaar verification framework, aimed squarely at bolstering identity security and eliminating fraudulent enrolments, particularly by undocumented foreigners.
At a high-level review convened at Raj Bhawan on Tuesday, Governor Anusuiya Uikey presided over discussions with the Chief Secretary, senior Home Department officers, and representatives from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Social Welfare, and Education Departments. The meeting assessed the state’s Aadhaar enrolment and authentication protocols.
Officials confirmed that all adult Aadhaar applications in Manipur now undergo compulsory scrutiny at the State Headquarters — specifically, under the purview of the Special Secretary (Home). A senior UIDAI official present remarked that “Manipur’s adult Aadhaar scrutiny may be the most rigorous in the country,” describing the processes as vital in preventing illegal migrants from acquiring Aadhaar credentials.
The move comes amidst growing concerns in the region over the misuse of identity documentation and unauthorised access to state-sponsored benefits.
The revised procedures demand that biometric and biographic data be regularly updated, with two mandatory biometric updates now in effect:
- MBU-1: For children aged between 5 and 7
- MBU-2: Upon reaching the age of 15
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Both updates, provided free of charge, are necessary to maintain Aadhaar validity and prevent service disruptions. Officials underscored that outdated biometrics can lead to authentication failures, thereby affecting access to welfare schemes and financial services.
“The strengthened Aadhaar processes not only enhance identity verification but also provide a deterrent against the misuse of demographic data,” a senior government officer said following the meeting.
Manipur’s heightened security posture on Aadhaar is in line with directions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and UIDAI, which have called for tighter identity controls in sensitive regions.
This strategic tightening of digital identity protocols is expected to improve authentication reliability and restore public confidence in welfare delivery systems, particularly in a state grappling with demographic anxieties and security challenges.
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