Over 100,000 Schools have been saturated by UIDAI’s special drive on mandatory biometric update in Aadhaar; millions of children benefited

**Executive Summary** The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has conducted a six-month mission mode drive for mandatory biometric updates (MBU) in Aadhaar for children aged 7-15. This initiative, which began in September 2025, has already benefited over 100,000 schools and 12 million children. The MBU for this age group is free of cost for a year from October 1, 2025. **Key Points / Main Content** * **Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) Drive:** * A six-month mission mode drive for MBU in Aadhaar for children aged 7-15 is currently ongoing nationwide. * The drive commenced in September 2025, following technological integration with the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+). * Over 103,000 schools have been covered, and approximately 1.2 crore (12 million) school children have completed their MBU. * **Cost and Duration of MBU:** * The MBU in Aadhaar for children in the 7-15 age group is free of cost for a period of one year, starting from October 1, 2025. * **Collaboration and Infrastructure:** * UIDAI Regional Offices and state education departments are collaborating with schools to facilitate the MBU. * UDISE+ integration provides visibility into children's MBU status, aiding in identifying those due for an update. * Approximately 4000 machines are in use, with plans to increase this number to expedite the process. * **Importance of Biometric Updates:** * Updated biometrics in Aadhaar are crucial for authentication for various government schemes, scholarships, and registration for competitive examinations (e.g., NEET, JEE, CUET). * **Alternative MBU Locations:** * In addition to school camps, children can also complete their MBU at any Aadhaar enrolment centre or Aadhaar Seva Kendra across India. **Impact Analysis** **School Children** * **Impact:** Children aged 7-15 can conveniently complete their mandatory biometric updates in Aadhaar at their schools, ensuring continued access to government benefits, scholarships, and examination registrations. The update is free for a year from October 1, 2025. * **Action Required:** Parents and guardians are encouraged to ensure their children's biometric data in Aadhaar is updated. Children can complete the MBU at school camps or any Aadhaar enrolment centre/Aadhaar Seva Kendra. **Schools** * **Impact:** Schools are actively involved in facilitating the MBU drive, providing a convenient location for students to complete their mandatory updates. * **Action Required:** Continue to cooperate with UIDAI and education departments to host MBU camps and support the initiative. **UIDAI Regional Offices and State Offices** * **Impact:** These offices are responsible for coordinating the MBU drive, working with various stakeholders to ensure its successful implementation. * **Action Required:** Continue to coordinate with Education Departments, district administration, schools, and UIDAI's ecosystem partners to execute the children-focused exercise. **Education Departments of States & Union Territories** * **Impact:** These departments are key collaborators in the MBU drive, helping to identify children requiring updates and facilitating the process. * **Action Required:** Continue collaboration with UIDAI Regional Offices and other stakeholders to support the MBU drive. **Parents and Guardians** * **Impact:** They are encouraged to ensure their children's biometric data is updated in Aadhaar, which is essential for various purposes. * **Action Required:** Ensure children in the 7-15 age group complete their mandatory biometric update in Aadhaar, taking advantage of the free period.

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