“Aadhaar Deactivation After Death: How to Report a Family Member’s Death on myAadhaar Portal to Prevent Fraud? How to Reactivate If Aadhaar is Deactivated by Mistake? How to Confirm Aadhaar Deactivation of a Deceased Person? Check All Details Here.”
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has taken a significant step towards preventing identity theft and fraud involving the Aadhaar numbers of deceased individuals. By introducing a dedicated online service on the myAadhaar Portal, the authority now enables family members to report the death of their loved ones, ensuring timely deactivation of their Aadhaar number.
This move comes in response to growing concerns about the misuse of Aadhaar details after a person’s death for purposes such as claiming subsidies, opening fraudulent bank accounts, or accessing government benefits illegally.
Aadhaar Deactivation Process After Death
1. When the death certificate does not mention Aadhaar: In such cases, a family member can initiate the deactivation by submitting an online request through the myaadhaar portal (detailed process provided below). The process requires the deceased person’s Aadhaar number along with the official death registration number. Once submitted, UIDAI cross-verifies the details with the Registrar General of India (RGI). After successful validation, the Aadhaar is deactivated.
2. When the death certificate includes Aadhaar details: If the Aadhaar number is already recorded on the death certificate within the Civil Registration System (CRS), the deactivation becomes largely automatic. UIDAI receives this information directly from the RGI, ensuring the Aadhaar is deactivated without delay. Even so, if a family member submits a report through the portal, it serves as an additional confirmation to speed up and secure the process.
Why Aadhaar Deactivation After Death is Important
Aadhaar, the 12-digit unique identity number issued by UIDAI, is a critical identification document for Indian residents and certain categories of NRIs. While Aadhaar numbers are never reassigned to another person, the absence of a proper deactivation mechanism after death can leave the number vulnerable to misuse.
For instance, without deactivation, someone could use the deceased’s Aadhaar for:
- Fraudulent government subsidy claims
- Illegitimate pension withdrawals
- Unauthorized bank transactions
- KYC-based identity fraud
Deactivating Aadhaar after death not only preserves the sanctity of the national identity database but also helps protect the estate and financial matters of the deceased.
UIDAI’s New Initiative: ‘Reporting of Death of a Family Member’
On June 9, 2025, UIDAI launched the ‘Reporting of Death of a Family Member’ service on the myAadhaar Portal for deaths registered in 24 States/UTs integrated with the Civil Registration System (CRS).
Key Features of the Service:
- Online Reporting – Family members can log into the myAadhaar Portal and submit the deceased’s Aadhaar number and other details.
- Mandatory Death Certificate – The process can be initiated only after obtaining a death certificate from the municipal or local registration authority.
- Self-Authentication – The reporting family member must authenticate themselves using their own Aadhaar credentials.
- Details Required – Along with the Aadhaar number, the Death Registration Number and basic demographic details of the deceased must be provided.
- Validation & Deactivation – UIDAI validates the submitted information and then proceeds to deactivate the Aadhaar number.
The integration of remaining States/UTs into this system is currently in progress.
Steps to Report Death for Aadhaar Deactivation via myAadhaar Portal
If you need to report the death of a family member, here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Obtain the Death Certificate from the municipal corporation, registrar office, or other authorized authority.
- Visit the myAadhaar Portal at https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in.
- Select ‘Report Death of a Family Member’ service from the available options.
- Login using your Aadhaar credentials: For this, enter your Aadhaar Number and the Captcha. Then click on the “Login with OTP” button.
- Enter the Required Details:
Deceased person’s Aadhaar number
Death Registration Number
Demographic details (name, DOB, etc.)
- Authenticate Yourself through OTP or biometric verification.
- Submit the Request for validation and processing.
- UIDAI Validates the Information against CRS records and proceeds with Aadhaar deactivation.
Timeline for Aadhaar Deactivation After Death
According to UIDAI and legal experts:
- Once the death is registered in CRS and details match with the Aadhaar database, automatic deactivation can occur without additional family action in some cases.
- If reported manually through the myAadhaar portal, UIDAI typically deactivates Aadhaar within 90 days after verification.
How to Check Aadhaar of a Deceased Has Been Deactivated?
Legal heirs can verify the Aadhaar deactivation status of deceased in two ways:
Online Method
- Go to the myAadhaar Portal.
- Click “Check Deceased Aadhaar Deactivation Status”.
- Then, enter ‘S‘ followed by 27 digit number.
- After that, enter the “Captcha Code” and click on the “Submit” button.
- The exact status of the Aadhaar of the deceased will display on the screen. If inactive, the status will show as “Deactivated due to death.”
Offline Method
- Visit any Aadhaar Seva Kendra (ASK) or authorized enrollment center with valid ID proof.
- Officials will confirm the status after checking UIDAI’s records.
Filing Income Tax Returns (ITR) After Aadhaar Deactivation
If the deceased’s Aadhaar has been deactivated, legal heirs can still file ITR on behalf of the deceased using their PAN number. Aadhaar is not mandatory for deceased individuals in tax filings, although it may be needed in certain financial processes like:
- Mutual fund claim settlements
- Insurance payouts
- Closure of bank accounts
In such cases, temporary Aadhaar reactivation may be required for KYC verification.
What if Aadhaar is Deactivated by Mistake?
UIDAI has issued guidelines for reactivating Aadhaar in cases where it was wrongly deactivated.
Reactivation Process:
- Visit the nearest UIDAI regional/state office with ID proof.
- Fill in the prescribed reactivation form.
- Provide a fresh set of biometric data at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra.
- UIDAI must process the reactivation within 30 days.
- The status of the reactivation request will be updated online.
However, only the individual themselves can request reactivation — nominees or legal heirs cannot do so on behalf of the deceased.
UIDAI’s Broader Strategy to Prevent Aadhaar Misuse After Death
To safeguard Aadhaar data and prevent fraud, UIDAI has initiated several measures:
- Partnership with Registrar General of India (RGI) – Around 1.55 crore death records from 24 CRS-enabled States/UTs have been shared, leading to the deactivation of 1.17 crore Aadhaar numbers.
- Data from Non-CRS States/UTs – Additional 6.7 lakh death records have been collected and are being processed for deactivation.
- Collaboration with Banks & Other Entities – Exploring partnerships to source death data from institutions that maintain Aadhaar-linked records.
- 100+ Age Verification Drive – A pilot project with state governments to verify the status of Aadhaar holders above 100 years old.
- Lock/Unlock Feature – Family members can use the Virtual ID (VID) to temporarily lock Aadhaar, preventing misuse until formal deactivation.
Expert Opinions on the New Service
- Ronil Goger (Blaze Legal) – Highlights the lock/unlock feature as an extra layer of protection and suggests linking death certificate issuance directly with Aadhaar deactivation.
- Alay Razvi (Accord Juris) – Notes that Aadhaar deactivation after death is now a structured process under UIDAI’s guidelines.
- Arya Tripathy (Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas) – Points out that Aadhaar deactivation is not mandatory under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, but UIDAI’s validation process effectively locks biometric data after death.
- Saswati Soumya Sahu (ANB Legal) – Warns against reassigning Aadhaar numbers and stresses the importance of securing biometric data post-deactivation.
Why Citizens Should Act Proactively
While UIDAI is integrating automated processes with state databases, manual reporting by family members ensures faster deactivation and reduces the risk of misuse. Prompt action also:
- Prevents fraudulent withdrawals or benefit claims
- Protects the deceased’s identity and reputation
- Eases the closure of financial and legal matters
Conclusion
The launch of the ‘Reporting of Death of a Family Member’ service marks a proactive step by UIDAI to secure the Aadhaar ecosystem from posthumous misuse. By empowering families to report deaths directly on the myAadhaar Portal, and by collaborating with government agencies and banks, UIDAI aims to maintain the integrity of India’s digital identity system.
For every Aadhaar holder, it is now equally important to protect their identity after death as it is during life. Families should make it a standard practice to obtain the death certificate promptly and report the death to UIDAI — safeguarding both the dignity of the deceased and the security of the nation’s identity database.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I deactivate a deceased person’s Aadhaar number?
You can deactivate a deceased person’s Aadhaar number by reporting their death on the myAadhaar Portal. Log in with your Aadhaar, select “Report Death of a Family Member,” provide the deceased’s Aadhaar number, Death Registration Number, and other required details, and submit for verification.
2. Is Aadhaar deactivation after death mandatory?
No, it’s not legally mandatory under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, but UIDAI recommends it to prevent misuse of the deceased’s identity.
3. How long does it take to deactivate Aadhaar after death?
Once the death is reported and validated, UIDAI generally deactivates the Aadhaar within 90 days. In some cases, if death records are automatically matched via the Civil Registration System, deactivation may happen sooner.
4. Can I file Income Tax Returns for the deceased if their Aadhaar is deactivated?
Yes. Legal heirs can file ITR on behalf of the deceased using their PAN. Aadhaar is not mandatory for deceased individuals in tax filings.
5. What if Aadhaar is deactivated by mistake?
If Aadhaar is wrongly deactivated, the concerned person can visit a UIDAI regional office or Aadhaar Seva Kendra, provide ID proof, biometric data, and request reactivation. UIDAI processes the reactivation within 30 days.
