The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced a major relief for parents by making biometric updates for children aged 7 to 15 years entirely free for one year. The initiative, effective from October 1, 2025, aims to simplify the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) process and ensure that every child’s Aadhaar record remains accurate and functional for accessing essential services.

Every child is required to undergo the Mandatory Biometric Update twice—first at age 5 and again at 15. During these updates, Aadhaar enrolment centres capture the child’s fresh fingerprints, iris scans, and an updated photograph. These details replace the earlier biometric data, which becomes outdated as children grow.

Accurate biometric information is crucial because Aadhaar is linked to a wide range of government services, welfare schemes, educational benefits, and identity verification processes. Any inaccuracy or outdated detail can prevent a child from accessing these essential services smoothly.

UIDAI has observed that thousands of parents delay or skip their children’s biometric updates due to:

• Lack of awareness about the mandatory update schedule

• Confusion regarding the procedure

• Perceived inconvenience in visiting enrolment centres

• Additional fees, which discourage low-income families from completing the update on time

These delays can result in Aadhaar services being temporarily restricted, affecting the child’s access to key benefits. To address this recurring issue, UIDAI has taken a behavioural approach.

In an effort to better understand behavioural barriers and encourage timely updates, UIDAI has partnered with Behavioural Insights Team (BIT), an organisation specialising in human behaviour research and communication strategies.

Under this collaboration, experts will:

• Study the reasons parents postpone updates

• Develop simplified communication tools

• Introduce nudges such as reminders, alerts, and intuitive messages

• Create awareness campaigns that guide parents through the process without confusion

UIDAI CEO Bhuwanesh Kumar emphasized that combining technology with behavioural insights will make Aadhaar services more user-friendly and responsive to citizen needs. BIT CEO Rachel Coyle added that the behavioural approach will significantly help families complete the biometric process on time, ensuring children face no service interruptions.

To encourage maximum participation, UIDAI has waived all fees for biometric updates for children aged 7–15 for one full year. This temporary exemption is expected to benefit millions of families, especially those who avoided the update due to financial constraints.

By offering the service free of cost, UIDAI aims to motivate parents to complete the MBU promptly and avoid delays that may impact their child’s future documentation and service access.

Parents can complete their child’s biometric update at any authorized Aadhaar Enrolment Centre across the country. The process includes:

To locate the closest centre, UIDAI recommends using the Bhuvan Aadhaar Portal, which lists all authorised centres along with their addresses. Parents can simply check the portal, select the nearest centre, and visit directly without prior appointment.

The combination of free biometric updates and behavioural insights-based communication marks an important step toward ensuring smoother Aadhaar-related services for millions of children in India. By making the process easier, clearer, and more accessible, UIDAI hopes to reduce delays and keep every child’s Aadhaar information accurate and up to date.