The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has achieved a significant milestone by completing one crore Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) for schoolchildren across the country, strengthening the accuracy and reliability of the Aadhaar ecosystem.
The large-scale drive was undertaken in mission mode in close coordination with State and Union Territory Education Departments, district administrations and schools. As part of the initiative, biometric update camps were organised in nearly 83,000 schools nationwide, enabling children to complete their updates conveniently within school premises.
Under Aadhaar guidelines, children enrolled before the age of five are issued Aadhaar without biometric details, as fingerprints and iris patterns are not fully developed at that stage. Mandatory Biometric Updates are required when a child attains the age of five years, and again at the age of fifteen, to ensure continued usability of Aadhaar for authentication and service delivery. UIDAI’s focused outreach helped identify eligible children and ensured timely completion of updates.
To facilitate effective implementation, the drive was supported by data integration with the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), which enabled schools and authorities to identify students due for biometric updates. This data-driven approach helped in planning and executing update camps efficiently, resulting in rapid coverage across regions.
UIDAI emphasised that updated biometrics are critical for children to seamlessly access government welfare schemes, scholarships, educational benefits, school admissions and national-level examinations. Accurate Aadhaar records also help prevent authentication failures and ensure smooth delivery of services as children progress through different stages of education.
In order to encourage wider participation, UIDAI has also waived biometric update fees for children in specific age groups, reducing the financial burden on parents and guardians. The authority noted that such measures have played an important role in achieving high coverage within a limited timeframe.
UIDAI stated that the mission-mode campaign will continue until all eligible schoolchildren across the country complete their Mandatory Biometric Updates. The authority reiterated its commitment to working closely with education departments and schools to ensure that no child is left out, thereby reinforcing Aadhaar as a trusted digital identity for every resident.