Indore's Biometric Update Drive: Transforming Student Welfare with UDISE+

Indore's Biometric Update Drive: A New Paradigm in Student Welfare

In a significant stride towards enhancing student welfare, Indore, Madhya Pradesh, has integrated the UDISE+ portal to track Aadhaar biometric updates. This innovative approach ensures that students can access crucial services such as school admissions, scholarships, and direct benefit transfers (DBT) without delays.

Streamlining Biometric Updates

The ‘Aadhaar for Students, Now at School Gate’ campaign, implemented across 44 districts of Madhya Pradesh, has seen a particularly proactive response in Indore. Special Aadhaar camps have been set up in government schools, allowing students to update their biometric data, including fingerprints, iris scans, and photographs, directly on campus. This eliminates the need for students to travel to external centers, making the process more convenient and accessible.

Key benefits of on-campus Aadhaar camps include:

• Reduced travel burden:** Students can update their biometric data without leaving school.
• Increased efficiency:** Local UIDAI teams and school authorities work together to ensure a smooth and organized process.
• Improved participation:** Higher attendance and participation rates in biometric updates.

Portal-Based Tracking for Enhanced Accountability

One of the most significant enhancements of the campaign is the integration of Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) tracking into the UDISE+ portal. This national-level education data management platform now enables school principals to:

1. View student update status: Identify which students still need biometric updates.
2. Organize targeted outreach: Plan and execute Aadhaar update drives more effectively.
3. Ensure no student is left behind: Monitor and follow up with students to ensure they complete their updates on time.

This feature is expected to significantly reduce delays and bottlenecks in processing government schemes linked to student welfare, ensuring that all eligible students can access the benefits they need.

Mandatory Biometric Update Guidelines

As per UIDAI norms, students are required to update their Aadhaar biometrics at specific age intervals:

• First Update at age 5:** Free if done between ages 5–7.
• Second Update at age 15:** Free if done between ages 15–17.

A fee is applicable if updates are done after the respective age windows. School authorities have been instructed to inform parents and guardians about these guidelines and encourage timely completion of updates.

Projections and Impact

Projections suggest that the implementation of on-campus Aadhaar camps and portal-based tracking will lead to a 30% increase in the timely completion of biometric updates among students. This, in turn, is expected to streamline access to essential services and reduce administrative burdens for both students and educational institutions.

The Bottom Line

Indore's innovative use of the UDISE+ portal and on-campus Aadhaar camps is setting a new standard for student welfare. By ensuring timely and accessible biometric updates, the city is paving the way for a more efficient and equitable education system. This model could serve as a blueprint for other regions looking to enhance their student services through technology and collaboration.