From pursuing educational programmes and receiving government scholarships to opening bank accounts, Aadhaar card is increasingly becoming mandatory for everyone.
Looking at the increasing importance of Aadhaar card, the Unique Identification Authority of India on February 26, 2018 introduced a blue-coloured ‘Baal Aadhaar’ card for children below five years of age.
It is not compulsory for children below five to get an Aadhaar card, but it is needed for attending educational programmes overseas and to avail other government scholarships.
“A child below 5 years of age gets a blue-coloured Aadhaar known as Baal Aadhaar. When the child becomes 5 yr old, a mandatory biometric update is required,” the UIDAI said in a series of tweets.
No biometric details will be needed to get the Baal Aadhaar at the moment. But a biometric update will be needed when the child turns five.
“Remember to update biometric Aadhaar data of your child at the age of 5 years and then again at the age of 15 years. This mandatory biometric update for children is FREE,” the UIDAI said in another tweet.
The process to update Baal Aadhaar cards is the same just like the normal Aadhaar. It requires a biometrics of 10 fingers, iris scan and a photograph.
How to enroll for Baal Aadhaar
1. To enrol children below five years for Baal Aadhaar, you need to visit the nearest enrolment centre, fill up the application form and submit it with other required documents along with your own Aadhaar card.
2. Only a photograph is required for the children below five years of age to get Baal Aadhaar. A mandatory biometric verification is needed when the child turns 5. The same process will be repeated when the child turns 15.
3. Birth certificate and school’s identity card should be submitted while updating the Baal Aadhaar of a child above five years of age.
4. Once done with the registration and verification process, an SMS will be sent to the registered mobile number of the parents. Within 60 days of receiving SMS, the Aadhaar card number will be issued to the newborn child.
