Aadhaar has become an important document for accessing government services, scholarships, examinations and several other facilities. Now, parents of children between the ages of 5 and 17 have an important deadline to remember.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has been conducting a nationwide drive to ensure that children's biometric information is updated at the right age. According to the government, more than 2 crore mandatory biometric updates of schoolchildren have already been completed under the special drive.
What is Mandatory Biometric Update?
When Aadhaar is issued to a child below the age of five, fingerprints and iris scans are not captured because these biometrics are still developing.
Once the child turns 5, the first Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) is required. A second biometric update is required when the child turns 15.
During this process, the child's fingerprints, iris information and photograph are updated so that the Aadhaar record continues to accurately represent the individual.
The update is free for children aged 5 to 17
There is an important benefit for parents. UIDAI has made Mandatory Biometric Updates free for children in the 5–17 age group until September 30, 2026.
The government had specifically waived the charges for children aged 7–15 from October 1, 2025, for one year. MBU for children aged 5–7 and 15–17 is also free under the applicable provisions.
Why should parents complete it on time?
Parents should not treat the biometric update as just another Aadhaar formalities. An outdated biometric record can potentially create difficulties during Aadhaar authentication.
The government has specifically advised parents to complete the update because Aadhaar authentication may be required for accessing certain government benefits and for processes related to examinations and higher education, including NEET, JEE and CUET.
Government has already completed over 2 crore updates
The scale of the initiative is significant. UIDAI said that more than 20 million, or over 2 crore, Mandatory Biometric Updates had been completed as part of the nationwide drive.
The initiative has also been integrated with the UDISE+ education system, allowing authorities to identify children whose biometric updates are due. More than 1.56 lakh schools had been covered through school-level camps and coordinated outreach by UIDAI and state and Union Territory education departments.
What should parents do now?
If your child is between 5 and 17 years old and the mandatory biometric update is due, parents should check the Aadhaar status and complete the update before the current free-update window ends on September 30, 2026.
Keeping Aadhaar information updated can help avoid authentication-related difficulties later, particularly when the document is required for education, examinations or government services.
Keep this date in mind
September 30, 2026, is the important date for parents whose children need a Mandatory Biometric Update under the current free-update arrangement.
A small Aadhaar update today could help prevent unnecessary problems when the document is needed for an important examination, admission or government service later.
