The central government has updated the process for making Aadhaar cards for children below five years of age.
The new system is designed to make Aadhaar registration easier and more secure for families.
Under the updated rules, a child’s Aadhaar will now be linked through a Head of Family (HoF)-based system.
This means the Aadhaar card of a parent or legal guardian will play a key role in creating the child’s Aadhaar.
Parent’s Biometric Verification Now Mandatory
One major change is the introduction of biometric authentication for parents.
Earlier, a child’s Aadhaar could be generated using only the child’s photograph and birth certificate.
Parents’ biometric verification was not compulsory.
Now, during the enrolment process, one parent or guardian must complete biometric authentication using fingerprints or iris scans.
This step has been added to improve identity verification and reduce errors.
The child’s birth certificate will continue to be the main document for confirming:
Date of birth
Relationship with parents or guardians
Why Aadhaar is Important for Children
Aadhaar has become an important document for children in many situations.
Most schools now ask for Aadhaar during admission as proof of identity and address.
It is also useful while applying for a passport for a child, as it speeds up the verification process.
Apart from this, Aadhaar is often required for:
Opening a bank account in the child’s name
Investing in schemes like Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
Accessing government-related benefits and services
Step-by-Step Process for Child Aadhaar Under New Rules
The updated process for children below 5 years is now completely based on the parent or guardian’s Aadhaar details.
Here’s how the process works:
Keep Parent’s Aadhaar Ready
At least one parent or legal guardian must have a valid Aadhaar card. Without it, the child’s Aadhaar cannot be created.
Carry the Birth Certificate
The birth certificate is necessary to verify the child’s age and relationship with the family.
Visit an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre
Parents need to visit the nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre and fill out the registration form.
The address entered in the child’s Aadhaar will match the guardian’s Aadhaar details.
Parent’s Biometric Authentication
Children under five do not need fingerprints or iris scans. Instead, biometric verification of one parent will be completed during enrolment.
Aadhaar Generation
After the process is complete, parents will receive an acknowledgement receipt. The physical Aadhaar card will later be delivered to the registered address.
Families can also add the child’s Aadhaar profile to the Aadhaar mobile app for easier access.
New System Aims to Make Aadhaar More Secure
The government believes these changes will make the Aadhaar enrolment process safer, more accurate, and easier to manage for young children.
By linking children’s Aadhaar more closely with verified parent details, authorities hope to improve authentication and reduce document-related issues in the future.
