The government has deactivated over 2.5 crore Aadhaar numbers belonging to deceased individuals in a nationwide clean‑up to prevent identity fraud and misuse of benefits, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Jitin Prasada told Parliament on 4 February. The move affects the world’s largest biometric identity database, which covers around 134 crore active Aadhaar holders, and aims to tighten delivery of welfare services to legitimate recipients while closing loopholes that could allow fr