The Delhi LG has raised alarm over illegal immigrants securing Aadhaar cards and misusing government welfare schemes. A directive has been sent to the Chief Secretary demanding strict enforcement of Aadhaar regulations and a shift to in-house enrollment models within two months.
BY Navin Upadhyay
New Delhi | July 11, 2025 — In a significant development aimed at safeguarding national security and public welfare, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor’s (LG) Secretariat has initiated a major crackdown on the issuance of Aadhaar cards to illegal immigrants in the national capital. In a directive issued to the Chief Secretary, the LG’s office has called for the strict enforcement of regulations surrounding Aadhaar enrollment and has flagged the alarming scale at which undocumented foreign nationals are securing the identity document.
The LG Secretariat expressed deep concern over reports that a large number of Aadhaar cards have been procured by illegal immigrants in Delhi. This, the note said, poses a “serious threat to national security” and adversely affects the employment prospects of local residents. The LG further pointed out that once issued an Aadhaar card, these individuals gain access to various government welfare schemes, thereby diverting benefits meant for Indian citizens.
Delhi Chief Secretary writes a letter to Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena requesting enforcement of strict regulations for issuing Aadhaar Cards in Delhi in the wake of a large number of Aadhaar cards being procured by illegal immigrants.
The Chief Secretary has been asked to… pic.twitter.com/IVdO1T1iAS
— OTV (@otvnews) July 11, 2025
Aadhaar Issuance Model Under Review
In a decisive move, the LG has directed that all Aadhaar Registrars operating in Delhi must adopt an in-house Aadhaar enrollment model within two months. This model would replace the existing outsourced or third-party mechanisms, which are more vulnerable to misuse and fraudulent documentation.
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Officials said the shift to an in-house system would allow greater accountability and tighter scrutiny of the enrollment process. “This will ensure that only genuine residents of India are issued Aadhaar cards,” said a senior official from the Delhi administration.
Urgent Directive to Chief Secretary
The Chief Secretary has been asked to submit a comprehensive list of all Aadhaar enrollment centres across Delhi by July 15, 2025. The list is expected to help identify high-risk centers where lax oversight may be enabling the misuse of the Aadhaar system by foreign nationals.
The LG Secretariat has also stressed the need for periodic audits and verification drives at these centers to weed out illegally issued Aadhaar cards. Government officials say the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) may also be roped in to support the verification process and provide technical oversight.
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Security and Welfare Concerns
Sources in the administration have confirmed that the crackdown was triggered after intelligence inputs suggested a rising trend of foreign nationals — including those from Bangladesh and Myanmar — securing Aadhaar cards using fraudulent documents. These inputs reportedly highlighted how such individuals were able to access employment, housing, and government schemes, raising serious red flags.
“Besides national security, this impacts local job markets and puts strain on public welfare resources. It cannot be allowed to continue unchecked,” the LG office said in its communication.
Political & Administrative Reactions
The move is likely to stir a fresh round of debate on internal security and the integrity of India’s identity ecosystem. While Aadhaar has been credited with streamlining government benefits, critics have long warned of its vulnerability to identity fraud — especially in border states and urban centers with large migrant populations.
As the crackdown unfolds, Aadhaar enrollment centers across Delhi are likely to come under intense administrative scrutiny. The next few weeks will see a reshuffling of the Aadhaar issuance framework in the capital, with implications for thousands of applicants and operators.
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