Aadhaar Update Fees Surge; Biometric Fees for Children Waived — Live Report
New Delhi, October 6, 2025 — In a sweeping change announced by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the cost for updating Aadhaar card details has gone up as of October 1, 2025, but with a significant relief: biometric update charges for children aged 5 to 17 have been waived for one year. The Times of India+3News on Air+3DD News+3
Sources reported from UIDAI’s headquarters, where officials confirmed the new fee structure, explained the rationale, and clarified key exemptions for families.
🔍 What’s Changed — The New Fee Regime
- Demographic updates (name, address, contact, date of birth) — now ₹ 75 when done separately (up from ₹ 50). The Times of India+3www.ndtv.com+3The Financial Express+3
- Biometric updates (fingerprints, iris, photograph) — now ₹ 125 (up from the previous ₹ 100 or so). The Economic Times+4The Times of India+4www.ndtv.com+4
- Document proof updates (identity/address documents) at Aadhaar centres — ₹ 75 — while updates via the myAadhaar portal remain free until June 14, 2026. The Economic Times+4www.ndtv.com+4The Financial Express+4
- Home enrolment / updating service for those who cannot visit centres: ₹ 700 for the first person in a household, plus ₹ 350 for each additional member. The Times of India+4The Financial Express+4www.ndtv.com+4
These new rates will remain in force until September 30, 2028, at which point UIDAI will review the schedule again. The Financial Express+4The Times of India+4The Times of India+4
👶 Relief for Children — Biometric Fees Waived
Perhaps the most attention-grabbing twist: biometric update charges for children aged 5 to 17 years have been waived for a period of one year, beginning October 1, 2025. The Times of India+4News on Air+4DD News+4
Parents and guardians of roughly 6 crore children nationwide are set to benefit, according to UIDAI statements. Navbharat Times+3News on Air+3The Economic Times+3
This waiver is especially relevant for children who must undergo Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU-1 at age 5, MBU-2 around age 15) — those typical fees (₹ 125) will now not apply for this duration. The Times of India+4DD News+4News on Air+4
Officials say the move is intended to reduce financial burden on families and ensure children’s Aadhaar data stays current without barriers. DD News+2The Economic Times+2
💬 On the Ground Reactions & Implications
Inside the press briefing room, a UIDAI spokesperson explained that the fee hikes aim to “reflect rising operational costs, enhance security, and maintain the sustainability of Aadhaar services.” The Times of India+3UIDAI+3The Economic Times+3
Some first reactions from citizens:
- Parents greeted the waiver for children with relief. “We were worried about having to pay again, now we can update without stress,” said one mother outside an Aadhaar Seva Kendra in Delhi.
- Young adults and others updating demographic details expressed dismay at the higher costs. One man said, “₹ 75 for an address change feels steep when you already have to travel and take days off.”
- Advocacy groups caution about dual impacts — while the waiver helps children, higher costs for adults may deter necessary updates among low-income users, possibly leading to outdated Aadhaar data.
🔎 What You Should Do Right Now
If you’re planning to update your Aadhaar soon, here are some live tips to make the most of this transition:
- Combine updates — if you need to change both biometric and demographic details, doing them together may help you avoid paying twice.
- Use myAadhaar portal — for document proof updates, the online path remains free until June 14, 2026.
- Act early for children — even though the waiver lasts one year, updating sooner lowers risk of delays or missing deadlines for school, exams, subsidies, etc.
- Compare costs — choose centre vs home update depending on how many people need service at your address.
- Stay alert for future changes — in 2028, the entire fee schedule may shift again.
