The academic futures of more than 94 lakh students in Uttar Pradesh are hanging in the balance due to a critical administrative lapse. A mandatory update to their Aadhaar biometric details remains incomplete, potentially barring them from school admissions, crucial scholarships, and even national-level competitive examinations.
The Scale of the Pending Crisis
According to the latest Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) data, Uttar Pradesh has a total school enrollment of 4.24 crore students. Out of these, while 3.7 crore have submitted their Aadhaar details, a staggering 94.7 lakh students have not completed the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU). This process is required once for children aged 5-15 and again after they turn 15.
The statewide data reveals a deep-rooted problem. The MBU is pending for 52.1 lakh students in the 5-15 age group and another 42.6 lakh students above 15 years. The situation is particularly severe in certain districts.
District-Wise Breakdown of the Pendency
Prayagraj tops the list with the highest number of pending cases, accounting for 1.5 lakh students in the 5-15 bracket and 1.4 lakh in the above-15 category. In the state capital, Lucknow, the figures are 1.11 lakh and 1.26 lakh pending updates for the respective age groups.
Severe Consequences of Inaction
As per the regulations set by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), failure to complete these biometric updates—which include fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs—can render a child's Aadhaar inactive. An inactive Aadhaar acts as a significant barrier to essential services and opportunities.
The potential repercussions for students are severe and multifaceted:
- Blocked access to school and higher education admissions.
- Ineligibility for government scholarships and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes.
- Inability to apply for competitive examinations like JEE, NEET, or UPSC.
Officials from UIDAI have highlighted a specific technical hurdle. Students with pending MBU cannot update their mobile number in the Aadhaar database. Consequently, they will not receive the One-Time Passwords (OTPs) required for online application processes and verification, effectively locking them out of digital gateways to their future.
A Call for Immediate Action
Emphasizing the urgency, Col Prashant Kumar Singh, Deputy Director General of UIDAI's Lucknow region, stated, "Minors must get their MBU completed at the earliest." The state has the infrastructure in place, with 6,184 Aadhaar centres across Uttar Pradesh equipped to perform biometric updates.
The onus now lies squarely on the parents and guardians of the 94.7 lakh affected children. Promptly visiting an Aadhaar centre to complete this mandatory procedure is no longer just a bureaucratic formality but a critical step to secure the educational and professional pathways of a generation of students in India's most populous state.
