Maharashtra makes inclusion of mother's name mandatory in Aadhaar, PAN and other govt documents

In a significant development, the Maharashtra cabinet has made the mother's name mandatory in all government documents such as Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, birth certificates, school documents and property documents.

This change will be implemented from May 1, 2024. According to a report by Times of India, the first name of the applicant will be followed by the mother's first name, then the father's first name and surname.

Those born on or after May 1, 2014, must register their names in a new format for school and other documents, exam certificates, and salary slips, according to a government release.

Maharashtra State Public Health Department is holding a consultation with the Central government on whether the mother's name should be added to birth and death registrations.

For married women, the current system of the woman's name and then her husband's first name and surname would be applied. Orphans would be exempted from including their mother's name.

During the cabinet meeting, Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, and Deputy Chief Ministers Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar held placards with their names that included their mother's names.

The cabinet also cleared 18 proposals, including constructing a guest house in Ayodhya for pilgrims from the state and developing a 300-acre park in Mumbai.