Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh received the first prize for its performance in mandatory biometric updates for children’s Aadhaar cards at the 17th Aadhaar Day event in Kolkata on Wednesday.The state completed around 71 lakh updates over the past 10 months for children who turned five or 15, the two ages at which biometric details must be updated.Special secretary in the state planning department, Amit Bansal, received the award on behalf of UP at the ‘Aadhaar Samvaad’ programme held in Kolkata to mark the occasion.The state began a special campaign in Sept last year to clear pending updates. Aadhaar camps were held in schools and other institutions across districts, while parents, teachers and children were informed about the importance of updating biometric details.Children’s biometrics can change as they grow. The update is required when they turn five and again at 15, according to the state’s announcement. Completing it on time can help children access services that require Aadhaar authentication.The mandatory biometric update is free for children aged five to 17 until Sept 30, 2027.The state urged parents whose children have turned five or 15 and have not completed the update to visit a nearby Aadhaar centre.
