Jharkhand School Children to Get Free Aadhaar Biometric Updates

Ranchi, Feb 12, 2026: School children in Jharkhand and other parts of India will now be able to update their Aadhaar biometrics free of charge. Children turning 5 and 15 years old are entitled to a one-year window for updating their biometric data without any fees, a move expected to benefit millions of students.

Free Aadhaar Updates for Students
The Jharkhand government has clarified that students studying in government schools between the ages of 7 and 15 will not be charged for Aadhaar updates until September 30, 2026. Earlier, children aged 5–7 and 15–17 were already exempt from fees. Shashi Ranjan, State Project Director of the Jharkhand Education Project Council, issued special instructions to all districts to ensure that biometric updates for this age group are treated as a priority and conducted in mission mode.

Instructions for Schools and Operators
All schools, teachers, staff, and Aadhaar operators have been notified to facilitate the update process. The government is also undertaking awareness campaigns to ensure parents are informed and the process is carried out swiftly, as per directives from Chief Minister Hemant Soren.

How to Update Aadhaar Biometric Data
Children’s Aadhaar cards initially include demographic details and parents’ biometrics. At age 5, a child’s fingerprints and iris scan are recorded for the first time. By age 15, a second biometric update is mandatory as the child’s physical features stabilize.

Parents can visit any Aadhaar service or enrollment center within the prescribed age window to update their child’s fingerprints, iris scans, and photograph, free of charge. Time slots can be pre-booked on the Aadhaar portal. Keeping the update timely ensures that children face no difficulties accessing services, benefits, or identity verification in the future.