UIDAI Special Drive Completes over 2 Cr Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) in Aadhaar for School Children, Covering around 1.6 Lakh Schools Across the Country
Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology on 18th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
The UIDAI has completed over 2 crore Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) for school children through a nationwide mission-mode drive initiated in September 2025. Integrated with the UDISE+ system, the drive has covered 1.56 lakh schools to ensure students have updated Aadhaar data for authentication purposes. MBU services for children aged 5–17 years remain free of charge until September 30, 2026.
Key Points / Main Content
Implementation and Reach
The drive has successfully processed over 20 million MBUs across approximately 1.6 lakh schools.
Technological integration with the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) allows for real-time visibility of students' MBU status.
Services are delivered directly at schools through dedicated camps and coordinated outreach by UIDAI and State/UT education departments.
Mandatory Biometric Requirements
MBU is required at age 5 and again at age 15 to capture fingerprints and iris scans, which are not collected during initial enrollment for children under five.
Updated biometrics are essential for seamless Aadhaar authentication during a student's progress through school and higher education.
Fee Waivers and Deadlines
MBU is free for the 5–7 and 15–17 age groups.
A special waiver for the 7–15 age group was introduced on October 1, 2025, for one year.
Technically, all MBUs for children aged 5–17 are free until September 30, 2026.
Consequences of Non-Compliance
Failure to complete MBUs can lead to difficulties in authenticating for government scheme benefits.
Updated biometrics are necessary for registering for competitive and university entrance exams, including NEET, JEE, and CUET.
Impact Analysis
School ChildrenImpact: Students gain easier access to mandatory updates through localized school camps, ensuring they remain eligible for educational services and government benefits.
Action Required: Complete biometric updates at the mandatory intervals (ages 5 and 15) during school-level camps.
Parents and GuardiansImpact: Beneficiaries of a cost-free service (until September 2026) and more convenient processing without the need to visit external centers.
Action Required: Ensure children’s Aadhaar biometrics are updated to prevent issues with exam registrations and government scheme access.
Schools and State/UT Education DepartmentsImpact: Increased role in administrative coordination and facilitating UIDAI outreach to improve student documentation.
Action Required: Utilize UDISE+ data to monitor MBU status and coordinate with UIDAI to host dedicated update camps.
Key Entities Referenced
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI): The statutory authority responsible for Aadhaar, currently conducting a nationwide mission-mode drive for biometric updates in school children.
Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU): A required Aadhaar initiative where children must update their fingerprints and iris scans upon reaching the ages of 5 and 15.
Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+): A technological database integrated with UIDAI to identify and track the biometric update status of students across the school system.
Ministry of Electronics & IT: The nodal central ministry under which the UIDAI operates and issues policy directives regarding digital identity.
Ministry of Electronics & IT
UIDAI Special Drive Completes over 2 Cr
Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) in Aadhaar
for School Children, Covering around 1.6 Lakh
Schools Across the Country
As part of the initiative, MBU is Free between the ages of 5-
17 years till 30 Sept 2026
प्रव तथ: 18 AUG 2026 2:36PM by PIB Delhi
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has achieved a significant milestone in its
nationwide mission-mode drive for Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU), completing over 20 million
(over 2 crore) MBUs for school children across the country.
The initiative was enabled by UIDAI’s technological integration with the Unified District Information
System for Education Plus (UDISE+), which provides visibility of the MBU status of children at schools.
The special drive, initiated in September 2025, has by now covered over 1.56 lakh schools, enabling
school children to complete their Aadhaar biometric updates conveniently through dedicated school-level
camps and coordinated outreach by UIDAI and State/UT education departments. This has helped MBU
service to reach children directly at their schools, making the process more accessible and convenient for
crores of students.
Aadhaar enrolment for children below five years captures demographic information and photograph, while
fingerprints and iris biometrics are not captured at that age as these biometrics are still developing. MBU
helps ensure that the child’s Aadhaar continues to have updated biometric information.
MBU is required when a child attains the age of 5 years and again at 15 years. Timely completion helps
ensure a smoother Aadhaar authentication experience as children progress through school and higher
education and access various services and benefits where Aadhaar authentication may be required.
To encourage timely completion and make the service more accessible, UIDAI had waived the charges for
MBU for children in the 7–15 years age group from 1 October 2025 for a period of one year. MBU for
children in the 5–7 years and 15–17 years age groups continue to be free of charge. So, technically MBU
is now free between the ages of 5-17 years till 30 Sept 2026.
Lack of MBU in Aadhaar may lead to difficulties while carrying out authentication for receiving benefits
under various Government schemes, registering in competitive and university examinations like NEET,
JEE, CUET etc. UIDAI has been urging parents and guardians to complete the MBU in Aadhaar for their
children.
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Vinod Kumar / Kanishk Sharma(रलीज़ आईडी: 2300805) आगंतुक पटल : 1072
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