The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced a significant initiative to ease Aadhaar updates for children aged 7 to 15 years. Effective October 1, 2025, biometric updates for this age group are now free of cost for one year. This move aims to encourage parents and guardians to update their children's Aadhaar details, ensuring accurate records and seamless access to essential services.
Why Biometric Updates Are Important
Aadhaar, a 12-digit identification number, is linked to various government schemes, educational benefits, and other essential services. When a child is enrolled for Aadhaar below the age of five, only demographic information and a photograph are captured. Fingerprints and iris scans are not taken because they are not fully developed at that age.
As per UIDAI guidelines, a child needs to update their biometrics twice:
- First Update: When the child turns 5 years old, they must provide their fingerprints, iris scans, and a photograph.
- Second Update: Another biometric update is required when the child reaches 15 years of age.
These updates are crucial because a child's biometric data changes as they grow. Accurate biometrics ensure that the Aadhaar remains valid and can be used for authentication purposes. Without updated biometric data, children may face difficulties in accessing Aadhaar-linked services such as school admissions, scholarships, and government benefits.
Why the Fee Waiver?
UIDAI has observed that many parents delay or skip these mandatory biometric updates due to various reasons. These include a lack of awareness, confusion about the process, inconvenience, and the fees associated with the update. Previously, a fee of ₹125 was charged for biometric updates outside the 5-7 and 15-17 age windows. To address this, UIDAI has waived the update fees for children aged 7-15 for one year, starting October 1, 2025. This initiative aims to remove financial barriers and encourage timely updates.
How to Update Biometrics: A Step-by-Step Guide
Updating a child's Aadhaar biometrics is a simple process:
- Locate an Enrolment Center: Visit any authorized Aadhaar Enrolment Center. A complete list of centers is available on the Bhuvan Aadhaar portal.
- Carry Required Documents: Take the child’s Aadhaar number or Aadhaar card to the center.
- Undergo Biometric Update: At the center, the child’s fingerprints, iris scans, and photograph will be updated.
UIDAI Partners with Behavioral Insights Team (BIT)
To further streamline the update process, UIDAI has partnered with the Behavioural Insights Limited (BIT), a behavioral research organization. This collaboration aims to identify and address the behavioral and logistical barriers that prevent parents from updating their children's Aadhaar details on time. Together, UIDAI and BIT will work on creating simpler communication tools and reminders to encourage timely updates.
Benefits of Updated Aadhaar
An updated Aadhaar ensures that children can seamlessly access various services, including:
- School admissions
- Entrance examinations
- Scholarships
- Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes
UIDAI urges parents and guardians to take advantage of this free update initiative and ensure their children's Aadhaar details are accurate and up-to-date. This will not only help in availing essential services but also ensure a secure and reliable identity for the future.
