India’s Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI) is launching a school-based initiative to update biometric data for approximately 70 million children whose Aadhaar records require mandatory updates. The move addresses a critical compliance gap in the national biometric ID system and aims to make the update process more accessible for families across the country.
The program will deploy biometric machines to school districts nationwide, with initial technology testing underway and full rollout expected within 45 to 60 days. “UIDAI is working on a project to start updating the biometrics of children with parental consent through schools. We are at present testing the technology and it should be ready in 45–60 days,” said UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar.
Under UIDAI policy, biometric updates are mandatory once a child turns five. These updates—known as the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU)—include fingerprint and iris scan collection. While the update is free for children aged five to seven, a ₹100 fee applies if the update is completed after the seventh birthday. Children who do not complete the update by age seven risk having their Aadhaar deactivated, which may affect access to Aadhaar-linked services.
Staged Implementation and Broader Reforms
The school-based program will operate through a rotating system of biometric machines assigned to districts. A second biometric update is required at age 15 to account for physical changes during adolescence. That update will be administered later through colleges.
“Currently, over 70 million children are yet to update their biometrics for Aadhaar… it is mandatory for everyone above the age of five years,” Kumar explained, underscoring the scale of the effort.
An inactive Aadhaar can disrupt access to government benefit transfers and other services that require Aadhaar authentication, including many education-related processes such as school admissions and exam registrations.
System Enhancements and AI Integration
In parallel, UIDAI is implementing broader technological upgrades. The agency has extended free online document update services until June 2026, added face authentication as an additional verification option, and is piloting artificial intelligence tools to detect duplicate or spoofed biometric records.
The school-based update model marks a strategic shift in UIDAI’s outreach, aiming to simplify compliance for millions of families while maintaining the integrity and continuity of India’s national digital ID infrastructure.
Sources: Business Standard, The Economic Times, Times of India, ET Education, UIDAI, ObserveNow Media
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By Cass Kennedy
