UIDAI has announced a strategic partnership with consultancy Behavioural Insights Team (BIT) to increase uptake of the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) for children aged five and fifteen years. The move comes after UIDAI waived all charges for children aged 7–15, covering roughly six crore young Aadhaar-holders.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), tailored behavioural interventions will be developed, tested and implemented to address awareness, logistical and behavioural barriers that prevent timely biometrics updates. UIDAI hopes the intervention will make the process smoother and more intuitive for parents, schools and children.
UIDAI Chief Executive Officer Bhuvnesh Kumar said technology aligned with human behaviour “turns a digital identity process into a seamless, trustworthy and empowering experience.” The update requirement means a child enrolled in Aadhaar must update fingerprint, iris and photograph when they turn five, and again at age fifteen.
Why the Focus on Children?
UIDAI reports that despite the waiver of fees, some children are still missing their mandatory updates due to lack of awareness, limited access in remote areas and absence of prompts or engagement mechanisms. By applying behavioural science techniques, such as nudges, default settings, prompt reminders and user-friendly flows, the authority aims to increase compliance rates.
Schools, local enrolment centres and community organisations are expected to be integrated into the awareness drive. The behavioural initiative also hopes to reduce friction such as travel time to centres, unclear communication and apprehension among parents.
What It Means for Families
With the charges waived for one year starting October 1, 2025, children in the age group have a financial relief to complete the update without cost. Once biometrics are updated, Aadhaar holders can access linked public services, subsidies and benefits without disruption.
Looking Ahead
The behavioural insights-led initiative could set a model for other large-scale public service programmes. If successful, the framework might be scaled across other update workflows in the Aadhaar ecosystem. Observers note that the blend of technology, behavioural science and outreach could shape future digital identity strategies in India.
