UIDAI urges schools to conduct mandatory Aadhaar biometric updates for students

Schools across India have been urged to organize Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) for students aged 5-15 to ensure their Aadhaar records remain accurate, avoiding future difficulties in accessing services and exams.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is working with the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSEL) to link MBU status with the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) platform.

"This step is part of an exercise to enable schools to only look at their student data in the UDISE+ online tool and distribute the student biometric update camps where those students still need biometric updates,” said officials.

UIDAI estimates that about 17 crore children require MBUs at age 5 or 15. Officials explained, "These two updates are important as a child's biometrics (fingerprints, iris, and photograph) go through many alterations during their growth.”

“If these two updates are not completed, children will have difficulties completing authentication processing required to access beneficial supportive services, exam registration, and digital services processes,” officials said.

Delays often cause last-minute stress for students and parents. "Students and parents frequently rush to Aadhaar enrollment centers just before deadlines for competitive exams like NEET, JEE, or CUET, or while seeking benefits under government welfare schemes. This can be easily avoided if schools and parents complete MBUs on schedule," an official added.

UIDAI CEO Bhuvnesh Kumar has written to chief secretaries of all states and union territories, urging collaboration with local education authorities.

He said the school-based camp approach, using UDISE+ data, will reach a larger number of children efficiently.

"It was thought that a camp approach through the schools could be helpful in completing the sitting MBUs because the biggest problem was how the schools would know which students had not done biometric updates,” Kumar noted in his letter.

“Thanks to the technology teams from UIDAI and the Department of School Education and Literacy, they have been able to present a successful solution to this problem using the UDISE+ application. Now all the schools can have sight of the pending MBUs," Kumar added.

Through UDISE+, schools can now identify students with pending biometric updates in real time, partner with UIDAI to organize on-campus enrollment and update camps, and notify parents before Aadhaar biometrics are updated.

Officials said the data-driven approach ensures targeted outreach, speeds up MBU completion, and removes guesswork.

Timely updates will help students access services, including registration for competitive exams, scholarships, mid-day meals, and smoother authentication during school-to-college transitions.

For parents, on-campus camps reduce multiple trips to Aadhaar centers, saving time and effort.

An education ministry official noted, "UIDAI's partnership with the Ministry of Education shows how technology platforms like UDISE+ can be leveraged to solve practical challenges."