Children who were issued Aadhaar before turning five must update their biometrics once they cross the age of seven, or they risk having their Aadhaar deactivated, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said in an official statement.The UIDAI has started sending SMS notifications to the registered mobile numbers linked to such Aadhaar accounts, urging timely completion of the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU), PTI reported.“Timely completion of MBU is an essential requirement for maintaining the accuracy and reliability of biometric data of children. If the MBU is not completed even after seven years of age, the Aadhaar number may be deactivated, as per the existing rules,” the UIDAI said.“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 the first Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU),” the statement said.What is the MBU?A child under the age of five is enrolled in Aadhaar using only a photograph and demographic details like name, date of birth, gender and address, along with relevant proof documents. Fingerprints and iris scans are not collected at this stage.As per the rules, once the child reaches the age of five, their fingerprints, iris scan, and a new photograph must be updated in the Aadhaar database. This process is referred to as the Mandatory Biometric Update.Charges and access to servicesIf the MBU is carried out between the ages of five and seven, it is free of cost. After the age of seven, the update carries a nominal fee of Rs 100.A UIDAI official pointed out that Aadhaar-linked services like school admissions, scholarship benefits, entrance exams, and DBT (Direct Benefit Transfer) schemes may not work unless biometrics are updated.The UIDAI has advised parents and guardians to ensure timely updates to avoid disruption in services and maintain the seamless utility of Aadhaar.
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