UIDAI completes one crore Mandatory Biometric Updates for schoolchildren in 83,000 schools
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) said on 8 February 2026 that its school drive has completed over one crore Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) for children in about 83,000 schools in five months.
Summary
The Unique Identification Authority of India said on 8 February 2026 that it had crossed one crore Mandatory Biometric Updates for schoolchildren in 83,000 schools across the country. The drive began in September 2025 after UIDAI integrated with the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), which lets schools see which children are due for an MBU; camps were then held in schools with state education departments. A child under five enrols for Aadhaar without fingerprints or iris scans, which are not mature at that age, so biometric updates are needed after the ages of 5 and 15. Without an MBU, children may face problems authenticating for scheme benefits and registering for exams such as NEET, JEE and CUET. UIDAI waived MBU charges for children aged 7–15 from 1 October 2025 for one year; MBUs at ages 5–7 and 15–17 remain free. About 1.3 crore more MBUs were done at Aadhaar centres in the same period.
Key facts
- Milestone
- Over 1 crore MBUs in about 83,000 schools in 5 months
- Drive began
- September 2025, after UDISE+ integration
- When MBU is due
- After ages 5 and 15 (no fingerprints/iris captured below 5)
- Free
- Ages 7–15 from 1 October 2025 for one year; 5–7 and 15–17 always free
- At centres
- About 1.3 crore MBUs in the same period
Practice MCQs 3 questions
How many Mandatory Biometric Updates for schoolchildren had UIDAI's school drive completed, as announced on 8 February 2026?
Show answer
Correct answer: C — Over 1 crore
UIDAI crossed the milestone of over one crore MBUs for children in about 83,000 schools.
Integration of UIDAI with which platform let schools see which children were due for a Mandatory Biometric Update?
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Correct answer: D — UDISE+
The drive began in September 2025 after UIDAI's technological integration with the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+).
Consider the following about Aadhaar Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) for children: 1. Fingerprints and iris are not captured when a child below five years enrols for Aadhaar. 2. MBU charges for children aged 7–15 were waived permanently from 1 October 2025. Which of the above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: A — 1 only
Only 1 is correct. The waiver for the 7–15 age group runs for one year from 1 October 2025, not permanently.