Parents of school-going children should check their child's Aadhaar details before the September deadline. The government has been running a nationwide drive to complete Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) for children, and the service is currently available free of charge for children between 5 and 17 years of age until September 30, 2026.
The update is important because a child's fingerprints and iris information are not captured when Aadhaar is initially enrolled before the age of five. As children grow, their biometric details need to be updated so that Aadhaar authentication continues to work smoothly.
When does a child need a biometric update?
Mandatory biometric updating is required when a child reaches the age of 5 and again at the age of 15.
This process updates the child's fingerprints, iris scan and photograph in the Aadhaar record. Keeping these details updated can help prevent authentication-related problems later.
The government has already completed more than 2 crore updates
According to the government, UIDAI has completed more than 2 crore Mandatory Biometric Updates for school children as part of its nationwide campaign.
The drive has covered around 1.56 lakh schools, with special camps and coordination between UIDAI and education departments helping children complete the process closer to their schools.
Is the Aadhaar biometric update free?
Yes, the government has temporarily waived the applicable charges for children in the relevant age groups.
MBU is currently free for children aged 5 to 17 until September 30, 2026. The government had also specifically waived charges for children aged 7 to 15 from October 1, 2025, for one year.
Parents should therefore consider completing the update before the current free period ends.
Why is this update important?
An outdated Aadhaar biometric record can potentially create difficulties when Aadhaar authentication is required.
The government has specifically highlighted its importance for accessing certain government benefits and for registration or authentication related to competitive and university examinations such as NEET, JEE and CUET.
For students approaching important examinations, completing the update in advance can help avoid unnecessary last-minute problems.
How can parents get it done?
Parents or guardians can approach an authorised Aadhaar enrolment or update centre and request the child's Mandatory Biometric Update.
School-level camps may also be available in some areas as part of the government's ongoing campaign.
Before visiting a centre, parents should check the latest UIDAI information regarding the required documents, appointment requirements and availability of the service.
Don't wait until the last date
If your child is 5 years old or 15 years old and the mandatory biometric update has not yet been completed, September 30 is an important date to remember.
Getting the biometric information updated while the service is free can save parents the applicable fee later and, more importantly, help ensure that the child's Aadhaar remains ready for authentication when it is needed.
For parents, this is one small Aadhaar-related task that could prevent a much bigger problem when a school admission, examination registration or government service requires Aadhaar authentication.
