The central government has updated the process for making Aadhaar cards for children below the age of five.
The new system is designed to make Aadhaar registration easier and more secure for families.
Under the revised process, a child’s Aadhaar will now be linked through a “Head of Family” (HoF) system.
In simple terms, the Aadhaar card of a parent or legal guardian will now play a key role in creating the child’s Aadhaar.
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Parent’s Aadhaar and Biometric Verification Now Important
According to the new rules, at least one parent or guardian must have a valid Aadhaar card for the child’s Aadhaar to be generated.
The government has also made biometric authentication mandatory in this process.
This means fingerprints or iris verification of one parent will now be required during enrolment.
The child’s birth certificate will remain the main document for:
Proof of date of birth
Proof of relationship with parents or guardians
This step is expected to improve verification and reduce errors in Aadhaar registration.
How the Earlier System Worked
Earlier, biometric verification of parents was not compulsory for making a child’s Aadhaar card.
The Aadhaar was usually created using:
The child’s photograph
Birth certificate
Parent identification documents
Now, the government has added stronger authentication measures through the HoF-based system.
Why Aadhaar is Important for Children
Aadhaar has become an important document even for young children.
It is commonly required for:
School admissions
Passport applications
Opening bank accounts in a child’s name
Investment schemes like Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana
Having Aadhaar early can make many official processes faster and easier for parents.
Step-by-Step Process to Make Child Aadhaar
The updated Aadhaar process for children under 5 is simple but requires proper documents.
Here’s how it works:
Keep Parent’s Aadhaar Ready
At least one parent or legal guardian must have a valid Aadhaar card.
Carry the Child’s Birth Certificate
The birth certificate is necessary to confirm the child’s age and family relationship.
Visit an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre
Go to the nearest Aadhaar centre and fill out the enrolment form.
Use Guardian’s Address
The address mentioned in the parent or guardian’s Aadhaar will be used for the child as well.
Parent’s Biometric Authentication
Since children below 5 do not provide fingerprints or iris scans, biometric verification of one parent will be completed instead.
Receive Aadhaar Details
After enrolment, a receipt will be provided.
The physical Aadhaar card will later be delivered to the registered address.
Parents can also add the child’s Aadhaar profile to the Aadhaar mobile app for easier access.
New Rules Aim to Make Aadhaar More Secure
With these changes, the government wants to make Aadhaar registration for children more reliable and transparent.
The new HoF-based system is expected to strengthen identity verification while keeping the process simple for parents.