Baal Aadhaar Initiative

Aadhaar is a 12-digit identification number issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to the residents of India after a particular verification process. The aadhaar card is an essential document that is used as identity proof. UIDAI has announced issuing Aadhaar cards for children below five years of age. This Aadhaar card will be blue. The Aadhaar card of the child will be canceled when the child turns five years old. After a child’s Aadhaar card is offered, a new child’s Aadhaar card is generated, which requires updating the biometrics. Anyone who wants to make an Aadhaar card for their child has to apply on the official website. With the Aadhaar Child Card, you can take advantage of many government schemes. 

About Unique Identification Authority of India:

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is a statutory body established on July 12, 2016, by the Government of India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in accordance with the provisions of the Aadhaar Act, 2016.

UIDAI was created to issue a Unique Identification Number (UID) to all citizens of India, known as “Aadhaar”. The UID should (a) be strong enough to avoid duplicate and false identities, and (b) be verifiable and authenticated in a simple and cost-effective manner.

Objective of Baal Aadhaar Initiative:

Looking at the importance of Aadhaar in daily life, now the government has ordered to make Aadhaar cards for children. It is used for various tasks. It can be used as an identity card for children while traveling. This gives easy access to multiple state and government systems and services; without it, nothing happens in banks. It also helps in availing of mid-day meals. Under this scheme, the country’s residents will have to make Aadhaar child cards for children below five years of age. This scheme will also provide benefits of government schemes and services to the children. This will also make it easier for children to enroll in schools.

Benefits of the Baal Aadhaar Scheme:

• Baal Aadhaar will help with various social benefits and as a digital photo ID for children from birth.
• Quoting available government data, the saturation of Aadhaar currently stands at around 94%. The saturation of the base among adults is close to 100%. Aadhaar has now become a catalyst for both comfortable living and easy business.
• To better implement government programs for children in the age group of 0-5 years (to ensure better nutrition and early education), the Government of India supports registering children’s documents under this scheme.
• Baal Aadhaar will help in attaining various government-subsidized schemes. 
• Baal Aadhaar can be used as a unique document for traveling on trains and flights. 
• Admission to schools can be easier with Baal Aadhaar. 

Current Status of Baal Aadhaar Initiative:

Enrollment on Child Aadhaar is happening very fast across the country. In states like Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, the enrollment of children in the 0-5 age group has already exceeded 70% of the target age group. Enrollment of children (0-5 years of age) has also been remarkably successful in several other states and universities including Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, and Lakshadweep.

According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), the Unique Identification Office of India (UIDAI) has registered over 79 million children in the 0-5 age group in the first four months (April to July) of the current financial year. 

The initiative is part of an ongoing effort to expand the powers of the authorities to children in the age group of 0 to 5 years and enable their parents to enjoy the benefits listed in several government schemes. By the end of March 2022, 2.64 million children in the 0-5 age group have completed Baal Aadhaar; By the end of July 2022, this figure had reached 3.43 billion people.

Documents Required for Baal Aadhaar Initiative:

Baal Aadhaar cards are issued to children in the age group of 0-5 years. An essential aspect of the issuance of Aadhaar is the collection of biometric data (fingerprint and iris), which is necessary to ensure uniqueness based on eliminating duplication of these data. However, this biometric data is not collected when children aged 0 to 5 years registered with Aadhaar.

Difference from Regular Aadhaar:

• Baal Aadhaar does not require any biometric details. The enrollment is done free of cost.
• Parents’ Aadhaar information is also required while applying for Baal Aadhaar.
• The Baal Aadhaar turns invalid after the child attains five years of age. 
• The first mandatory biometric update should be done at five to include the child’s biometric data, such as fingerprints and iris scans. Another obligatory biometric renewal is required at the age of 15 years.
• Apart from a school ID, a photo, birth certificate, and mobile phone number of the child are also required for enrollment.

How to Apply for Baal Aadhaar Initiative?

Applying for a Baal Aadhaar card is similar to a regular Aadhaar card. To apply for a child’s Aadhaar card, the parents of the child need to complete the following steps:

• Locate your nearest online check-in center and apply for Aadhaar Card.
• Fill out the Aadhaar registration form at the registration center.
• Submit the valid documents along with the Aadhaar card details of the parents to the invigilator.
• After submitting the Aadhaar registration form and required documents, the manager will provide a receipt which can be used to track the status of the Aadhaar card.

Criticism of the Baal Aadhaar Initiative:

UIDAI’s move to issue Aadhaar cards to children and newborns without biometrics is criticized because, after five years, the child has to apply for a new regular Aadhaar. After the age of five, the child has to apply for a new Aadhaar. There is an extra cost burden on the government to cater to the huge under age of five population.