NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, OCT 6
In a major relief for parents and a boost to India’s digital governance ecosystem, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced free biometric updates for children across the country, waiving all charges for the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU-1) process. The move, effective from October 1 for one year, is expected to benefit around six crore children.
Ensure your child’s Aadhaar is up-to-date!
The Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) service is free for children aged 5–17 years.#Aadhaar #MBU #BiometricUpdate pic.twitter.com/yWLzCG68ph— Aadhaar (@UIDAI) October 4, 2025
- UIDAI’s new move to ease life for families and strengthen India’s digital public infrastructure; over six crore children to benefit
- With the latest decision, biometric updates for all children between 5–17 years are now completely free of cost, saving families the earlier fee of ₹125 per update
- As their biometrics mature, fingerprints, iris, and photo updates are mandatory once at age five (first MBU) and again at age 15 (second MBU)
Children under five years of age enrol for Aadhaar using only a photograph and demographic details. As their biometrics mature, fingerprints, iris, and photo updates are mandatory once at age five (first MBU) and again at age 15 (second MBU).
With the latest decision, biometric updates for all children between 5–17 years are now completely free of cost, saving families the earlier fee of ₹125 per update.
Empowering Families, Enabling Seamless Access
Updated Aadhaar records ensure smoother access to a range of essential services — from school admissions and exam registrations to scholarship benefits and Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT). The UIDAI has urged parents and guardians to update their children’s Aadhaar biometrics on priority to avoid service disruptions.
Building a Smarter Digital India
Last month, the UIDAI hosted ‘Aadhaar Samvaad’ in Hyderabad, a landmark gathering of over 700 policymakers, industry leaders, and startups to explore future innovations in digital identity services.
Speaking at the event, S. Krishnan, Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, hailed Aadhaar as the “foundational layer of India’s Digital Public Infrastructure”, noting its role in ensuring secure and efficient service delivery.
Neelkanth Mishra, Chairperson, UIDAI, emphasized the importance of continuous innovation and deeper stakeholder collaboration, while Bhuvnesh Kumar, CEO, UIDAI, described Aadhaar as “a journey of empowerment, accessibility, and trust.”
The initiative reinforces the government’s vision of a people-first, technology-driven India, making digital identity simpler, safer, and more inclusive for every child.
