UIDAI to begin biometric updates for children through schools in 2 months

UIDAI to begin Biometric updates for children through Schools in 2 months

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is set to roll out a project to update biometric of children's Aadhaar through schools, starting in a phased manner within the next two months.

UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar said that over 7 crore children have yet to complete the mandatory biometric update (MBU), which becomes necessary after a child turns five.

"UIDAI is working on a project to start updating the biometrics of children with parental consent through schools. We are at present testing the technology and it should be ready in 45-60 days," he said.

The MBU is vital for maintaining the accuracy and reliability of biometric data. If not completed even by the age of seven, the child's Aadhaar number is at risk of deactivation under current regulations. While the biometric update is free between the ages of five and seven, a fee of ₹100 applies once the child is older than seven.

An updated Aadhaar facilitates access to a range of essential services including school admissions, entrance exam registrations, scholarships, and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes.

Kumar also shared that UIDAI plans to expand the school-based biometric update model for the second MBU, which is required after a child turns 15.

Currently, Aadhaar is issued to newborns and children under five without capturing biometrics. "

Aadhaar is crucial for delivering benefits under several government schemes. We want children to get all the benefits at the right time. Through schools, we aim to reach children in a convenient and efficient way," Kumar said.

As part of the initiative, UIDAI will deploy biometric machines to each district, which will then be rotated across schools to ensure wide coverage.