The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Saturday announced a complete waiver of charges for Aadhaar Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU-1) for children aged 7 to 15 years, benefitting nearly six crore children across the country.
The waiver, which came into effect on October 1, 2025, will remain valid for one year, allowing parents and guardians to update their children’s Aadhaar biometrics free of cost.
Children below the age of five are enrolled for Aadhaar using demographic details and a photograph, while their fingerprints and iris scans are not captured at that stage. Once a child turns five, a Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU-1) is required to capture these details for the first time, and a second MBU is mandated upon reaching the age of 15.
Previously, UIDAI charged a fee of ₹125 for such updates after the age of seven. With this latest decision, all Aadhaar biometric updates for children between 5 and 17 years are now free of cost, making the process easier and more accessible for families.
The UIDAI said the move will ensure ease of living and enhance the seamless use of Aadhaar for services such as school admissions, entrance examinations, scholarships, and various Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes.
The Authority has urged parents and guardians to update their children’s biometrics at the earliest to ensure uninterrupted access to Aadhaar-linked services and benefits.
