- Big news regarding Aadhaar card update
- Children aged 5 to 17 years can get their Aadhaar card updated free of charge
- Know exactly how the process will be
Aadhar Update: Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) for children aged 5 to 17 can now be done free of charge. UIDAI has also started a campaign through schools. Know at what age Aadhaar biometric update is required and the easiest way to do it.
If your child is between the ages of 5 and 17 and their Aadhaar biometric has not yet been updated, don't delay for too long. As per UIDAI's current system, Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) for children is free till 30 September 2026. This means that parents do not have much time left to complete this important task.
Why is Aadhaar updated separately for children?
Many parents think that once their child Aadhar Card Once done, no further updates are required. However, this is not the case with children. When Aadhaar is created for a child below 5 years, their photograph and other important information is recorded. Fingerprints and iris data (iris data) are not usually collected at that age. As a child grows up, his biometric data changes, so UIDAI has set up a system to update it with age.
According to UIDAI, the first mandatory biometric update is done when the child turns 5 years old. During this process, photos, fingerprints and information from both eyes are recorded. After this, the biometric is updated again at the age of 15 years. Aadhaar number remains the same.
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Will this free update be available by September 30?
Currently, there is no charge for MBU for children between the ages of 5 and 17. UIDAI has waived the fee for children aged 7 to 15 for one year starting from 1 October 2025. Meanwhile, prescribed MBU for children aged 5 to 7 and 15 to 17 is already free. Therefore, parents of children whose MBU is still pending can complete the process before 30 September 2026.
Do this for Aadhaar update
To update Aadhaar, you must take your child to the nearest Aadhaar Enrollment Center or Aadhaar Seva Kendra. According to UIDAI, it is mandatory for you to have child's Aadhaar number for MBU. Nearest center information can be obtained from UIDAI.
UIDAI has also launched a special campaign in collaboration with schools. According to UIDAI data released on August 19, 2026, over 20 million mandatory biometric updates have been completed covering approximately 1.6 lakh schools.
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Aadhaar Biometric Update Required for Children
Keeping children's biometric data updated as they grow up helps in Aadhaar authentication. According to UIDAI, accurate and up-to-date data is essential to facilitate the use of identity-related services. However, it is important to understand one important point. Aadhaar is not automatically required for every school admission or every exam.
UIDAI has clarified that Aadhaar is generally not required for school admissions or exams like CBSE and NEET. So, parents need not panic. However, if the mandatory biometric update of the child is pending, it would be convenient to complete it within the current fee waiver deadline of 30 September 2026.