New Delhi, February 27: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will issue new 'blue coloured' Aadhaar cards. The new version of he 12-digit unique identification number (UID) will be issued only to kids below the age of five years. The card will be called as 'Baal Aadhaar', the UIDAI said on Twitter, adding that now even a newborn can apply for the identity card.

What is Baal Aadhaar and How to Enroll For it?

A kid’s Aadhaar needs two mandatory biometric updates. One-when the child reaches 5 years of age and second, when the child is 15 years of age. The updation can be done free of cost.  “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”, UIDAI said in a statement. It must be noted that biometrics is not developed for children before five years of age.

A tweet by UIDAI mentioned that it has now also introduced a blue coloured 'Baal Aadhaar' card for children below the age of 5 years. Aadhaar, the 12 digit identifier, is being used for identity authentication across banks, telecom companies, public distribution system, and income tax amongst others.

As per details by UIDAI, a child's Aadhaar data does not include biometric information like fingerprints and iris scan. For enrolling a child for Aadhaar card, the child's birth certificate and the Aadhaar card number of one of the parents is required, said UIDAI in another tweet. Once the child crosses the age of five, biometrics should be updated, UIDAI further said.

What documents are required to make Aadhaar for a child?

The two important documents that are needed to enroll your child for Aadhaar are: a) the parent’s Aadhaar and b) the child's birth certificate

Here’s the process:

  1. Parents need to fill an enrolment form at the Aadhaar enrolment centre.

  2. The child's birth certificate needs to be furnished while one of the parents must also provide their Aadhaar card number for authentication purposes.

  3. It is necessary to provide the 'Aadhaar' card of one of the parents for enrolling for child's 'Aadhaar card'. Also provide a mobile number.

  4. As the age of the applicant (the child) is below five, no biometrics will be recorded and only photograph will serve the purpose. Biometrics should be updated after the child reaches the age of five.

The government has made it mandatory to link Aadhaar to various services. To recall, the Supreme Court extended till March 31 next year the deadline for mandatory linking of Aadhaar with various services and welfare schemes. As per reports, the 12-digit unique identity number will now include face recognition alongside iris or fingerprint scan as a means of verifying users. The UIDAI in a statement said that the face authentication will be enabled by July to help people facing difficulty in biometric authentication due to old age, hardwork or worn-out fingerprints.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 27, 2018 04:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).