UIDAI to Launch Aadhaar Biometric Update Drive for 7 Crore School Children

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  UIDAI to update biometrics of over 7 crore children through schools in the next two months.
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  Biometric update is compulsory at age 5; failure to update by age 7 may lead to Aadhaar deactivation.
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  Updates between ages 5-7 are free, initiative begins with schools, later extending to colleges.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is set to launch a nationwide initiative to update the biometric data of Aadhaar cards for over 7 crore children, beginning with schools over the next two months. This ambitious move aims to streamline the process of Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) for children aged five years and above, in compliance with Aadhaar enrolment norms.

UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar announced that the authority is currently testing the necessary technology and anticipates the system will be ready for rollout within the next 45 to 60 days. The initiative will first target school-going children and later extend to colleges for those who require a second biometric update at the age of 15.

As per UIDAI guidelines, biometric data including fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs must be mandatorily updated once a child turns five. Children under the age of five receive Aadhaar cards without biometric details. Failure to complete this update by the age of seven could lead to deactivation of their Aadhaar number. Notably, the biometric update is free of cost between the ages of five and seven, but incurs a fee of Rs 100 after that.

“Aadhaar is essential for accessing numerous government welfare schemes. Our objective is to ensure that no child misses out on these benefits due to outdated or incomplete biometric records”, Kumar stated. “By involving schools, we aim to make the process easier and more accessible for children and their parents”.

To support the effort, UIDAI has begun sending SMS alerts to mobile numbers registered with Aadhaar accounts where biometric updates are pending. These messages serve as reminders for parents or guardians to complete the update at any Aadhaar Seva Kendra or designated centre.

For children under five, Aadhaar is issued based on demographic data and a photograph. However, since their biometric features are not fully developed at that age, a mandatory update is required at five years to capture fingerprints, iris, and a new photograph.

This nationwide drive reflects UIDAI’s commitment to strengthening the Aadhaar ecosystem and ensuring uninterrupted access to entitlements for all beneficiaries, particularly children.

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