Aadhaar update backlog puts over one thousand Mulshi students at risk of missing education benefits

A total of one thousand two hundred forty-six students in the Mulshi taluka face hurdles due to incomplete Aadhaar updates ahead of the government deadline. Education department figures show that nine hundred thirty-four primary school students have pending Aadhaar work, while three hundred fifteen Anganwadi children remain cut off from government benefits because their Aadhaar cards are not updated. The Directorate of Education has made valid Aadhaar status mandatory for school grant approvals by September 30. Administrative delays have now left the academic future of these students hanging in the balance. Meanwhile, according to Pudhari, parents of children aged five to seventeen can complete this mandatory biometric update for free until September 30, 2026. Children do not provide fingerprint and iris scans when first enrolled at a young age, so biometric data must be updated when a child turns five and again at age fifteen. Failing to complete the update before the deadline means parents may have to pay a set fee later. To finish the process, parents must take the child and both of their Aadhaar cards to a nearby Aadhaar registration centre.

Context

Administrative deadlines for identity documents often create last-minute rushes at local centres, especially when government benefits or school grants depend on compliance. Keeping biometric data updated helps prevent verification issues as children grow and their physical features change over time.