Overview
- The Unique Identification Authority of India signed and published a revised Standard Operating Procedure for name updates on September 18, 2026, replacing the 2021 guidance and putting the new rules into effect from the circular date.
- The SOP divides requests into categories — minor edits, data‑entry errors, marriage or divorce changes, regional‑language fixes and major name changes — and ties each category to specific evidence such as Proof of Identity, Proof of Relationship, prescribed affidavits (Annexures A–F) or a Gazette Notification for major changes.
- UIDAI requires in‑centre filing at Aadhaar enrolment or update centres, will vet submitted documents, affidavits and Gazette notifications more strictly and will compare proposed names with previously recorded names to reduce misuse and fraud.
- Practical impacts for holders include that many routine fixes (expanding initials, removing dots, correcting random capitalisation) need only standard identity proof, data‑entry corrections need Annexure B for adults or C for minors, and marriage/divorce surname changes require Annexure D and supporting ID.
- The separate DoB SOP from December 24, 2025, remains operative with a corrigendum to its annexure posted on September 28, 2026, and existing limits on updates (typically two name updates and one DoB change) still stand with an exception process for further requests.