India’s Unique Identification Authority (UIDAI) has issued a directive requiring all parents to complete a Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) for their children’s Aadhaar numbers once the child turns five. The update is free of charge until the child reaches age seven, after which a fee of ₹100 applies. UIDAI warns that if the update is not completed after the child’s seventh birthday, the Aadhaar number may be deactivated in accordance with existing rules.
MBU Closes Biometric Gaps from Early Enrollment
The MBU requirement addresses a longstanding limitation in the Aadhaar enrollment process for children under five, which captures only demographic information and a photograph. Because fingerprints and iris patterns are not sufficiently developed in infants and toddlers, UIDAI requires that biometric data—including ten fingerprints, iris scans, and a new photo—be collected once the child is old enough.
To complete the MBU, parents or guardians must visit an authorized Aadhaar Seva Kendra or other designated enrollment center. Required documents include the child’s birth certificate or school certificate, one parent’s Aadhaar number or a valid government-issued ID, proof of address, and a recent passport-sized photo of the child. These records ensure that the child’s updated biometric record is correctly linked to their original Aadhaar identity.
Failure to complete the MBU could affect access to critical services. UIDAI has emphasized that a suspended Aadhaar number may disrupt eligibility for school admissions, scholarships, and direct benefit transfers, among other public programs. In a press statement, UIDAI noted: “If the MBU is not completed even after seven years of age, the Aadhaar number may be deactivated, as per the existing rules.”
Secure Updates Reflect Broader Aadhaar Integration
This comes alongside ongoing improvements to Aadhaar’s biometric security infrastructure. These include enhanced anti-spoofing measures such as PAD (Presentation Attack Detection) certification for biometric devices and the approval of third-party technologies like Precise Biometrics’ BioLive system to verify data authenticity during enrollment and authentication.
UIDAI has also rolled out new mobile applications that support secure Aadhaar sharing and self-service profile updates, underscoring the agency’s push for streamlined, secure access to identity services across platforms.
States and union territories across India are now working to implement MBU at scale. In Uttar Pradesh alone, officials estimate that biometric updates are pending for over 4.6 crore Aadhaar cardholders under the age of seven. UIDAI has called on parents to act promptly to avoid interruptions to their children’s identity-linked services.
Sources: UIDAI, The Economic Times
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by Ji-seo Kim
