Delhi, Aug 24: Parents and guardians have until September 30 to complete mandatory Aadhaar biometric updates for children without paying a fee, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has said, urging families not to delay the process.
UIDAI has advised that children undergo the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) when they turn five and again at 15. The update is intended to keep Aadhaar records accurate and help children verify their identity for school admissions, examinations, scholarships and access to government schemes.
The authority said parents should complete the mandatory updates at the prescribed ages. It reiterated the advisory in a social media post, stating that the service would remain free until September 30.
Aadhaar enrolment for children below the age of five follows a different process. At that stage, the system records the child’s demographic information and photograph, while fingerprints and iris scans are not captured because these biometric features are still developing.
Children must therefore provide their biometric information after turning five. They must repeat the process at the age of 15 to ensure that their Aadhaar records continue to reflect updated biometric information.
The UIDAI introduced a fee waiver to encourage wider participation in the mandatory update process. From October 1, 2025, it waived charges for mandatory biometric updates for children aged seven to 15 for a period of one year.
The current free facility is scheduled to remain available until September 30. Parents and guardians have been asked to use the period to complete the required update rather than wait until the deadline approaches.
UIDAI has specifically advised families to visit their nearest Aadhaar centre to complete the biometric update. The process is part of the authority’s effort to ensure that Aadhaar records remain updated as children’s biometric characteristics develop.
The mandatory updates are particularly relevant as Aadhaar is used as an identity verification document for a range of purposes. The 12-digit Aadhaar number is issued to Indian residents and is widely used to access government services and benefits.
For children enrolled in Aadhaar before turning five, the absence of fingerprints and iris scans at the initial enrolment stage means the subsequent biometric update becomes necessary. The update at five captures the child’s biometric information, while another update at 15 helps keep the record current.
With the fee waiver set to continue only until September 30, UIDAI has called on parents and guardians to complete the process within the stipulated period. The authority’s advisory places the responsibility on families to ensure that children’s Aadhaar records are updated at the required ages and remain usable for identity verification.
