UIDAI Achieves Major Milestone with Biometric Updates for School Children
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has announced the successful completion of mandatory biometric updates for more than one crore school children across the nation. This significant achievement covers students enrolled in 83,000 educational institutions throughout India, according to an official statement released by the authority.
Understanding Mandatory Biometric Updates
For children under five years of age, Aadhaar enrollment involves capturing basic information including photograph, name, date of birth, gender, address, and birth certificate documentation. However, at this initial stage, fingerprint and iris biometric data are not collected since these biological indicators are not fully developed in young children.
The mandatory biometric update process becomes essential when children reach the ages of five and fifteen years. At these critical developmental stages, children must provide their fingerprint and iris data to complete their Aadhaar registration properly. This biometric information becomes crucial for identity verification throughout their lives.
Importance of Timely Biometric Updates
Failure to complete mandatory biometric updates can create significant challenges for students as they grow older. Without updated biometric information in their Aadhaar records, children may face authentication difficulties when attempting to access various government benefits and welfare schemes designed to support their education and development.
Furthermore, the lack of updated biometric data can create obstacles during registration for important competitive examinations and university entrance tests. This includes nationally significant examinations such as NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), JEE (Joint Entrance Examination), and CUET (Common University Entrance Test). Proper biometric authentication has become increasingly essential for participation in these critical academic pathways.
Technological Integration and School Campaign
The UIDAI initiated this special biometric update drive for school children in September 2025 following successful technological integration with the Unified District Information System for Education Plus application. This innovative integration enabled schools to monitor the biometric update status of their students efficiently.
This technological breakthrough allowed UIDAI and educational institutions to collaborate effectively in identifying children who required biometric updates. The partnership facilitated the organization of special camps within school premises, making the update process convenient and accessible for students and their families.
Free Update Initiative and Government Support
In a significant move to encourage participation, UIDAI has made mandatory biometric updates completely free for children aged between seven and fifteen years. This free service period began on October 1 and will continue for one full year, removing financial barriers that might prevent families from completing this essential process.
UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar has personally reached out to Chief Secretaries of all states and Union Territories, requesting their support in conducting focused biometric update camps within schools. This coordinated approach ensures that the initiative receives necessary administrative backing across different regions of the country.
Expanding Access Through Multiple Channels
While school-based camps have proven highly effective, UIDAI has ensured that multiple channels remain available for completing biometric updates. Children and their families can visit authorized Aadhaar enrollment centers and Aadhaar Seva Kendras located throughout the country to complete the mandatory update process.
The authority reported that approximately 1.3 crore biometric update transactions have been completed during the same period through these alternative channels, demonstrating the widespread adoption of this essential identity verification process.
Continued Mission and Future Impact
The mission-mode campaign continues to operate with the goal of covering all schools across India. This ongoing initiative has already benefited one crore children in 83,000 schools, with many more students expected to gain from this comprehensive biometric update program in the coming months.
The successful completion of biometric updates for such a substantial number of school children represents a major step forward in India's digital identity infrastructure. It ensures that the younger generation will have properly authenticated Aadhaar credentials that will facilitate their access to educational opportunities, government services, and various social benefits throughout their lives.
