The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has waived charges for Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) for children aged 5-17, benefiting nearly 6 crore children. This waiver came into effect on 1st October 2025 and will remain in force for one year. First and second MBUs, if performed when a child is between 5-7 and 15-17 years old, respectively, are free of charge. After that, a fee of Rs. 125/- per MBU is prescribed. This ensures free MBU updates for all children in the age group of 5-17. The purpose of this is to ease children's access to education, scholarships, and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes. Parents/guardians are advised to update biometrics on priority. This policy was posted on 04 OCT 2025 at 7:03PM by PIB Delhi.
Key Entities Referenced
Aadhaar: Unique identification number used for various services.
Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU): Biometric updates required for Aadhaar, specifically at age 5 and 15.
Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI): The authority responsible for Aadhaar enrolment and updates.
Ministry of Electronics & IT: The government ministry overseeing the policy.
DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer): Scheme using Aadhaar for direct transfer of benefits.
Ministry of Electronics & IT
UIDAI Waives Charges for Aadhaar Biometric
Updates for Children Aged 7–15, Benefiting Nearly 6
Crore children
The waiver of MBU charges came into effect on 1st
October 2025 and will remain in force for one year
Free Biometric Updates in Aadhaar to Ease
Children’s Access to Education, Scholarships and
DBT Schemes
Posted On: 04 OCT 2025 7:03PM by PIB Delhi
In a pro-people measure, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has waived off all charges for
Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU-1), a move that is expected to benefit around 6 crore children.
The waiver of MBU charges for the said age group has already kicked in effective 1 October 2025 and will be
in force for a period of one year.
A child under the age of five enrols for Aadhaar by providing the photograph, name, date of birth, gender,
address and birth certificate. The fingerprints and iris biometrics of a child are not captured for Aadhaar
enrolment below the age of five because these are not mature at that age.
As per existing rules, therefore, fingerprints, iris and photo are mandatorily required to be updated in his/her
Aadhaar when the child reaches the age of five years. This is called first Mandatory Biometric Update
(MBU). Similarly, a child is required to update biometrics once again upon reaching the age of 15 years,
which is referred to as the second MBU.
The first and second MBUs, if performed between 5-7 and 15-17 years of age respectively, are thus free of
cost. Thereafter, a prescribed fee of Rs. 125/- per MBU is charged. With this decision, MBU is now
effectively free for all children in the age group of 5-17.
Aadhaar with updated biometric facilitates ease of living and ensures seamless usage of Aadhaar in availing
services such as school admissions, registering for entrance examinations, availing benefits of scholarships,
DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) schemes, etc wherever applicable. Parents/ guardians are advised to update
biometrics of their children/wards in Aadhaar, on priority.
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Dharmendra Tewari(Release ID: 2174841)