New Delhi, July 16: The Government of India has issued a fresh advisory urging parents and guardians to complete the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) of their children’s Aadhaar between the ages of 5 and 7, free of cost. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has begun sending SMS reminders to mobile numbers linked to the Aadhaar of children who have turned seven but have not yet updated their biometric data.
According to the Ministry of Electronics and IT, this update is a critical step in ensuring the accuracy and reliability of Aadhaar records, as biometric details such as fingerprints and iris scans are not captured during initial enrolment for children below five years of age.
The MBU, which includes updating fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs, is mandatory when a child turns five years old. If completed between ages 5 and 7, the process is free. However, post the age of seven, a nominal fee of Rs. 100 is applicable.
UIDAI has cautioned that failure to complete the biometric update after age seven may result in deactivation of the child’s Aadhaar number as per existing rules. The agency has also clarified that parents can visit any Aadhaar Seva Kendra or authorised Aadhaar centre to carry out the update.
An updated Aadhaar ensures smoother access to essential services such as school admissions, registration for entrance examinations, scholarships, and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes. The government has, therefore, urged parents to prioritise this update for their children at the earliest.
