The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is taking unprecedented steps to make Aadhaar services more accessible and user-centric. UIDAI has partnered with Behavioral Research Organization Behavioral Insights Limited (BIT) to simplify the process of updating children’s Aadhaar biometrics. This partnership primarily focuses on improving the mandatory biometric update (MBU), which is required for every child between the ages of 5 and 15. This update involves taking a new fingerprint, iris scan, and photo.
According to UIDAI Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bhuvnesh Kumar, integrating technology with an understanding of human behavior will improve Aadhaar services and tailor them to user needs. This initiative is designed to simplify the experience for families and ensure accurate access to children’s Aadhaar records.
Why Parents Delay
UIDAI has observed that many parents do not update their children’s biometrics on time due to confusion, lack of information, or inconvenience. As a result, many children face difficulties accessing essential Aadhaar-related services.
To address this issue, UIDAI, in collaboration with BIT, will understand the reasons why parents delay updates. Experts will then develop simple notifications, reminders, and communication tools that will help families complete updates on time. BIT CEO Rachel Coyle stated that a behavior-based approach can help ensure timely biometric updates, allowing children to access essential Aadhaar-related services without hassle.
A Strong Incentive to Fee Waiver
To encourage children’s biometric updates, UIDAI has completely waived the update fee for children aged 7 to 15 for one year. This fee waiver is effective from October 1, 2025. This move will benefit millions of families, especially those who previously postponed updates due to fees. The MBU fee used to be ₹125, which will no longer be charged. This temporary waiver is a powerful way to encourage parents to complete the MBU on time.
Why Timely Updates Are Important
Updating your child’s Aadhaar record on time ensures that it is accurate and fully valid. This is crucial because Aadhaar is linked to numerous government schemes, identity documents, educational benefits, and welfare programs. If children’s records are accurate, they will have no difficulty accessing these services. Children’s fingerprints and iris patterns evolve with age. Failure to update can lead to authentication problems.
Where and how to update
To update their child’s Aadhaar biometrics, parents must visit any authorized Aadhaar Enrollment Center. At these centers, the child’s fingerprint, iris scan, and new photo are re-captured and updated in the Aadhaar record immediately. To locate the center nearest to your home, you can visit the Bhuvan Aadhaar portal. This portal provides a list of all authorized Aadhaar centers across the country. Parents can select the nearest enrollment center and go directly for the update.
