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Govt to Issue NIDs from Age 16, Says Election Commission
Govt to Issue NIDs from Age 16
The Election Commission (EC) has announced that citizens will now be able to obtain National Identity (NID) cards from the age of 16.
The initiative aims to ease access to essential services well before the voting age of 18.
“Citizens aged 16 or above can apply for NID registration. This helps us preserve preliminary data in advance, and they will receive NIDs,” EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said at a press briefing at Nirbachan Bhaban on Tuesday.
He noted that many services—such as studying abroad, opening a bank account, or seeking overseas medical treatment—require an NID, making early access vital.
While NIDs will now be available from age 16, individuals will be automatically enrolled as voters once they turn 18, at which point they will also receive smart NID cards.
In a further change, the EC has scrapped the requirement of filing a general diary (GD) for reissuing lost NIDs, a step aimed at reducing time and hassle for citizens.