The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced a significant relief for families with children, waiving all fees for mandatory Aadhaar biometric updates for children aged 5-17 years until October 2026. This decision, effective from October 1, 2025, is expected to benefit approximately 6 crore children across the country.
Under existing regulations, children are required to update their Aadhaar with biometric data, including fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs, upon reaching the age of five and again between the ages of 15 and 17. Previously, these updates were free only for children aged 5-7 years and 15-17 years. A fee of ₹125 was charged for updates outside these specific age windows. With the new waiver, all first and second mandatory biometric updates (MBU) for children aged 5-17 are now completely free.
A child under the age of five is enrolled for Aadhaar by providing a photograph, name, date of birth, gender, address, and birth certificate. Biometric details like fingerprints and iris scans are not captured at this stage because these features are not fully developed in young children. Therefore, a biometric update becomes mandatory when the child turns five. This update, referred to as the first Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU), involves capturing fingerprints, iris scans, and an updated photograph. A second biometric update is required when the child reaches 15 years of age.
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology stated that this fee waiver aims to reduce the pendency of Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) for children. The UIDAI's move is seen as a pro-people measure that will ease the financial burden on families while ensuring that children's Aadhaar details are accurately updated.
While biometric updates for children aged 5-17 are now free, it's important to note that the UIDAI has revised the fee structure for other Aadhaar-related services, effective October 1, 2025, and applicable until September 30, 2028. Services that previously cost Rs 50 will now cost Rs 75, and services that cost Rs 100 will now cost Rs 125. From 2028, these fees are scheduled to increase again, with Rs 75 services rising to Rs 90 and Rs 125 services increasing to Rs 150.
Demographic updates, including changes to name, gender, date of birth, address, or contact details, are free when done in conjunction with a biometric update. However, standalone demographic updates now cost Rs 75, up from Rs 50. Updates to identity and address documents via the myAadhaar portal are free until June 14, 2026, while these updates at enrolment centers now cost Rs 75, up from Rs 50. For home enrolment services, UIDAI charges Rs 700 (including GST) plus standard update fees. When multiple residents at the same address request this service, the first enrollee pays Rs 700, while subsequent enrollees pay Rs 350 each.
