The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has completed more than 2 crore Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) for schoolchildren across the country under a nationwide mission-mode campaign.
The initiative, launched in September 2025, has now covered around 1.56 lakh schools, enabling children to complete their Aadhaar biometric updates through dedicated camps organised at school campuses.
The campaign is being implemented through coordination between UIDAI, State and Union Territory education departments and schools. The initiative aims to make the Aadhaar update process easier for school-going children and their families.
What Is Mandatory Biometric Update in Aadhaar?
A Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) is the process through which a child’s Aadhaar biometric information is updated as the child grows.
When Aadhaar is initially enrolled for a child below five years of age, fingerprints and iris information are not captured because these biometric characteristics are still developing.
Once the child reaches five years of age, the child’s photograph, fingerprints and iris information are required to be recorded. A further biometric update is required when the Aadhaar holder reaches 15 years of age. UIDAI states that these updates retain the original Aadhaar number.
The requirement is therefore intended to ensure that Aadhaar records continue to contain accurate biometric information as children grow.
Nationwide School-Based Aadhaar Update Drive
The latest milestone represents a significant expansion of the campaign.
In February 2026, UIDAI had reported completion of more than 1 crore MBUs across 83,000 schools.
By March, the campaign had expanded to more than 1.03 lakh schools, with around 1.2 crore children completing their biometric updates.
The latest figure of over 2 crore updates across approximately 1.56 lakh schools demonstrates the scale at which the programme has expanded in recent months.
UDISE+ Integration Helps Schools Track Pending Updates
A major component of the initiative is the technological integration between UIDAI and the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).
The integration allows schools to identify children who are due for their mandatory biometric updates and helps education authorities coordinate update camps.
Instead of requiring every family to independently navigate the process, school-level camps bring the service closer to students.
This school-based approach has been one of the key factors behind the rapid expansion of the programme.
Why Aadhaar Biometric Updates Matter for Children
Keeping a child’s Aadhaar biometric information updated can help ensure smoother authentication as the child progresses through school and later into higher education.
UIDAI has highlighted the relevance of updated Aadhaar information for authentication linked to applicable government schemes, scholarships and educational processes. The authority has also noted its relevance in registration for competitive and university examinations such as NEET, JEE and CUET.
An updated Aadhaar record can therefore become increasingly important as students move through different stages of education.
Is Aadhaar MBU Free for Children?
UIDAI has provided important relief on the cost of mandatory biometric updates for children.
The MBU is free when conducted once between the ages of 5 and 7 years and once between 15 and 17 years, according to UIDAI’s current information.
In addition, UIDAI has made MBU free for children in the 7-15 age group for one year from October 1, 2025. The current special waiver means MBU is effectively free for children aged 5 to 17 years until September 30, 2026, according to the latest campaign information.
Parents and guardians should therefore check the applicable UIDAI rules and complete the update within the relevant period.
Why UIDAI Is Taking the Service to Schools
The school-based approach addresses one of the practical challenges associated with children’s Aadhaar updates: ensuring that families know when an update is due and have convenient access to an Aadhaar facility.
By organising camps at schools, authorities can identify eligible students and provide the service at their educational institutions.
The programme also enables State and UT education departments, district administrations and schools to work with UIDAI’s regional offices and ecosystem partners.
The result is a coordinated model in which education infrastructure supports Aadhaar update outreach.
What Parents Should Know About MBU
Parents and guardians should pay attention to the child’s age and Aadhaar update history.
The key points are:
- Aadhaar biometric information is updated when a child reaches 5 years.
- A further mandatory biometric update is required at 15 years.
- The original Aadhaar number remains unchanged.
- The prescribed MBU at ages 5-7 and 15-17 is free.
- UIDAI’s special waiver has made MBU free for children aged 7-15 for a limited period.
- Parents should check whether their child’s MBU has already been completed before arranging another update.
A Growing Link Between Education and Digital Identity
The latest UIDAI campaign also illustrates the growing connection between digital identity systems and education administration.
Through UDISE+ integration, schools can identify students due for Aadhaar biometric updates, while UIDAI can use the education network to make the update process more accessible.
This approach has helped move Aadhaar services beyond conventional enrolment and update centres and into school campuses.
At the same time, the use of identity information in education makes it important for institutions and families to follow applicable rules concerning children’s information and official procedures.
From 1 Crore to 2 Crore Updates: How the Campaign Expanded
The progress of the campaign can be seen through its milestones:
| Period | Achievement |
|---|---|
| February 2026 | Over 1 crore MBUs across 83,000 schools |
| March 2026 | Around 1.2 crore children across more than 1.03 lakh schools |
| August 2026 | Over 2 crore MBUs across around 1.56 lakh schools |
The figures show how rapidly the school-based MBU campaign has expanded since its launch in September 2025.
What Happens Next?
UIDAI’s mission-mode campaign is continuing, with the authority and education departments working to reach more schools and children who are due for mandatory biometric updates.
The focus will remain on identifying eligible students, organising school-level camps and ensuring that children’s Aadhaar records are updated at the appropriate stages.
For parents, the most important step is to remain aware of their child’s Aadhaar biometric update requirement and complete it through the official UIDAI process when due.
UIDAI’s 2-Crore Milestone Marks Major Aadhaar-Education Initiative
The completion of more than 2 crore Mandatory Biometric Updates for schoolchildren marks a major milestone in UIDAI’s nationwide campaign.
With around 1.56 lakh schools covered, the initiative has created a large-scale school-based mechanism for helping children update their Aadhaar biometrics.
The integration with UDISE+ has been central to the programme, allowing schools and education authorities to identify children who need updates and organise camps closer to where students study.
As Aadhaar becomes relevant to an increasing number of education-related processes, keeping biometric information updated can help students avoid authentication-related difficulties.
For families, the message is simple: check whether your child’s mandatory biometric update is due, follow UIDAI’s official process and complete the update within the applicable age and fee rules.
