UIDAI biometric update drive eases path for students appearing in NEET, JEE and other exams

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has completed more than one crore Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) for schoolchildren across the country, a move expected to significantly ease future participation in national-level competitive and university entrance examinations such as NEET, JEE, CUET and others.

Conducted in mission mode, the five-month-long drive covered 83,000 schools in collaboration with state education departments, ensuring that students’ Aadhaar records are updated well before they reach critical academic milestones. Updated biometric data plays a vital role in Aadhaar-based authentication, which is increasingly required during exam registration, verification and counselling processes.

A major advantage of the initiative has been the organisation of biometric update camps within school premises, sparing students and parents the need to travel to Aadhaar centres. This proactive approach helps prevent last-minute authentication issues that often surface during high-stakes examination registrations, particularly for competitive exams where deadlines are strict and verification failures can lead to disqualification.

The drive was enabled by UIDAI’s integration with the Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+), allowing schools to identify students due for Mandatory Biometric Updates. This ensured targeted outreach and timely completion of biometric updates for children well ahead of their eligibility for entrance examinations and scholarship-linked admissions.

Mandatory Biometric Updates are essential as Aadhaar enrolment for children below five years does not capture fingerprints and iris data. These biometrics must be updated after crossing the ages of 5 and 15 years. Without updated biometrics, students may face difficulties in Aadhaar authentication, potentially affecting registrations for NEET, JEE, CUET, university admissions, and access to government education schemes and scholarships.

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To encourage timely compliance, UIDAI waived the charges for Mandatory Biometric Updates for children aged 7 to 15 years from October 1, 2025, for one year. MBUs for children in the 5–7 and 15–17 age groups continue to remain free of cost, ensuring equitable access for all.

The campaign, which remains operational until all schools are covered, has already benefited over one crore students. In parallel, around 1.3 crore Mandatory Biometric Updates were also completed at Aadhaar Enrolment Centres and Aadhaar Seva Kendras nationwide, further strengthening Aadhaar readiness among students.