New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has issued a crucial advisory directing parents and guardians to update the biometric details of children who have crossed the age of seven, warning that failure to do so could result in deactivation of their Aadhaar numbers.
As per UIDAI guidelines, biometric updates—including fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs—must be completed at the nearest Aadhaar Seva Kendra once a child turns five. This is termed the first mandatory biometric update. While the process is free of charge for children aged between 5 and 7, a fee of Rs 1,000 will be levied if the update is done after the age of seven.
UIDAI stressed that updated biometric records are essential to access several benefits, including school admissions, direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes, and scholarships. Children whose biometric details are not updated risk facing disruption in accessing these services.
Children under the age of five are issued a ‘Baal Aadhaar’ or Blue Aadhaar, which includes only demographic information and a photograph. No biometric data is captured at that stage. Upon turning five, children must undergo biometric enrolment, and the data must be further updated after they reach the age of seven.
The UIDAI has begun sending alerts via SMS to registered mobile numbers of parents and guardians, reminding them to complete the process. The authority urged the public to comply promptly to ensure uninterrupted access to Aadhaar-linked services.