Aadhaar will be updated for free! No fees will be required for one year, but only these users will benefit..

A significant and positive news has emerged regarding the Aadhaar Card. UIDAI has made biometric updates to children's Aadhaar cards completely free for one year. This means that parents can now update their children's fingerprints, iris, and photo without any fees. This facility is specifically for children between the ages of 5 and 15, as biometric updates are considered mandatory at these ages. With the new exemption, millions of children between the ages of 5 and 17 will directly benefit from this decision.

Why is it necessary for children to update their biometrics?

Although Aadhaar cards are issued for children, fingerprints and iris scans are not taken for children under the age of 5. This is because their biometrics are not fully developed at such a young age. Therefore, UIDAI's rule is that the first biometric update (MBU-1) is required upon reaching 5 years of age, and the second biometric update (MBU-2) is required upon reaching 15 years of age. This means that both these updates are crucial to ensuring the Aadhaar card remains fully valid and usable for a long time.

The service is completely free for one year.

UIDAI has announced that all fees for biometric updates for children have been waived from October 1, 2025, to September 30, 2026. Previously, ₹125 per MBU was required, but now both updates will be free. This waiver has been specifically announced for children aged 7 to 15 years, so that more families can update their biometrics on time.

6 Crore Children to Benefit
According to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, this decision will directly benefit approximately 6 crore children in the country. This update is crucial for children who require Aadhaar for school admissions, scholarships, government schemes (DBT), or any other service. However, many families postponed this update due to the fees or lack of information. Now, with the service being free, children will be able to access services without interruption.

Why did UIDAI partner with BIT?
UIDAI has partnered with Behavioral Insights Limited (BIT) to help parents update their children's Aadhaar promptly. The purpose of this partnership is to provide accurate information to parents and facilitate easy access to services for children. Simply put, UIDAI wants to ensure that no child is deprived of government benefits simply because their Aadhaar hasn't been updated.

What is the 5-year update?
When a child turns 5, the following biometrics are updated in their Aadhaar:

⦁ Photo
⦁ Fingerprint
⦁ Iris scan

Why is a second MBU necessary at 15?
By the age of 15, a child's biometrics are fully mature. Therefore, UIDAI guidelines state that a second fingerprint, second iris scan, and a new photo are mandatory at 15 years of age. This update is considered free between the ages of 15 and 17, and now, thanks to the UIDAI's exemption, it's completely simplified.

How to Update Your Child's Biometrics
To update your child's biometrics, parents simply need to visit the nearest Aadhaar Enrolment Center or Aadhaar Seva Kendra.

The steps are as follows:

⦁ Bring the child's Aadhaar number or Baal Aadhaar with you.

⦁ The parent or guardian's Aadhaar will be used as identification.

⦁ A new photo, fingerprint, and iris scan of the child will be taken.
⦁ The update will be reflected in Aadhaar within 2–5 days.

What is Blue or Baal Aadhaar?
The Aadhaar number for children under 5 years of age is called Blue Aadhaar. This Aadhaar is valid until the child turns 5. After the child turns 5, a biometric update is mandatory; otherwise, the Aadhaar is considered temporary.

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