Aadhaar Card: Major news for Aadhaar Card holders. The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has implemented new fees for Aadhaar updates, effective October 1, 2025. While updating demographic information (such as name, address, date of birth, mobile number, etc.) previously cost only Rs 50, this fee has now increased to Rs 75. Similarly, the fee for biometric updates has now been increased to Rs 125, up from Rs 100 previously.

Some relief has been provided for children. One-time biometric updates for children aged 5-7 and 15-17 will be free. Updates for children aged 7 to 15 will remain free until September 30, 2026. If you want to reprint your physical Aadhaar card, you’ll have to pay Rs 40. Additionally, home enrollment services for individuals will cost Rs 700 and Rs 350 for other individuals in the same household.

The government has made it clear that if you don’t link your PAN with Aadhaar, your PAN card will be deactivated. This will directly impact your mutual funds, demat accounts, and tax-saving schemes. Many people have already experienced transaction difficulties due to this. If your PAN is deactivated, you will be unable to invest or withdraw money from mutual funds. Therefore, immediately visit the Income Tax portal to check the PAN-Aadhaar linking status.

Aadhaar e-KYC is now safer and easier than ever before

UIDAI and NPCI have now made KYC even easier and more secure through new technology. Banks and NBFCs (non-banking financial institutions) can now identify you even without your full Aadhaar number. This will maintain your privacy and expedite banking processes.

UIDAI is also ensuring that your Aadhaar number is active and genuine. If your Aadhaar is found to be duplicate or invalid, your account will not be opened and investments may be blocked. Therefore, be sure to check your Aadhaar status frequently by visiting the mAadhaar app or the UIDAI website.

AePS (Aadhaar Enabled Payment System) regulations are also being tightened starting January 1, 2026. Banks and their business correspondents will now be required to conduct more monitoring and KYC verification. This will monitor cash transactions, especially in rural areas. This will reduce fraud, but some users may face difficulties in accessing services.

Additionally, post office schemes like RD, PPF, and NSC will now be opened through Aadhaar-based e-KYC. This will be a paperless process, but if your Aadhaar isn’t linked or updated, deposits or withdrawals may be disrupted. UIDAI is also simplifying offline KYC. Soon, you’ll be able to bank using just a QR code or a masked Aadhaar ID, ensuring your personal information remains secure.