The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has sent out an important reminder about Aadhar. Children who had obtained Aadhaar prior to turning five years old need to update their biometrics by the age of seven years.
This is known as the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) and must be done to ensure that the Aadhaar remains active and operational.
Why This Update Matters
When young kids obtain an Aadhaar, their biometric attributes—such as fingerprints and iris scans—are not reliable. So, UIDAI calls for the first update between 5 and 7 years of age for free. This captures precise biometric information.
Later than seven years of age, the same update is obligatory. Nonetheless, a small fee of ₹100 becomes charged. If the child does not get this done on time, UIDAI can deactivate the Aadhaar until the updating is done.
Free Update Options for Parents
Parents must be informed that there are two main stages:
Age 5 to 7 years: Biometric update is free
After 7 years: ₹100 is charged as a fee
UIDAI has also started sending SMS reminders to the registered mobile numbers of parents. This is a reminder to make the update the top priority.
How This Impacts Access to Services
An updated Aadhaar is essential. Without this, a child can have problems in:
- Admissions in schools
- Registrations for entrance exams
- Scholarships and student schemes
- Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT)
Thus, updating the biometrics in time ensures problem-free access to these critical services.
Biometric Update Location
Parents can go to any Aadhaar Seva Kendra or authorized Aadhaar Enrolment Centre.
They are required to carry:
The Aadhaar card of the child
Their own identity document
A mobile number registered with the Aadhaar
The procedure involves photo capture, finger and iris scan, followed by an acknowledgement slip. After that, the new Aadhaar card comes in the post.
