In a major initiative to ensure every student has a valid and updated Aadhaar record, the School Education Department has launched special biometric update camps for students studying in government and private schools across Tripura.

The department has deployed nearly 50 specially trained teachers and staff to conduct the camps. Biometric updates for students up to 18 years of age are being provided completely free of cost.

According to officials, the initiative aims to complete the mandatory Aadhaar biometric update (MBU) for children at the ages of 5 and 15 years, as facial features, fingerprints and iris patterns change significantly as they grow.

Officials said timely biometric updates are essential to maintain the authenticity of Aadhaar records and ensure students can seamlessly access education and welfare services. Updated biometric details also help students avoid technical issues while registering for Board examinations, competitive entrance tests, college admissions, government scholarships and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes. Failure to complete the mandatory update could lead to delays or rejection of applications at crucial stages of their academic careers.

The department said the exercise will also help schools maintain accurate student records in government databases such as UDISE+, prevent duplicate or fraudulent enrolments and ensure transparent delivery of benefits including Mid-Day Meals, free uniforms and other educational assistance.

The initiative follows the Directorate of Elementary Education's earlier effort to establish Aadhaar centres in all Education Inspectorates across the state, which helped achieve Aadhaar enrolment for around 99 per cent of students. Building on that success, the Directorate of Secondary Education is now conducting special biometric update camps across schools.

Officials said Aadhaar biometric camps will be organised in all schools to achieve 100 per cent biometric authentication of students through fingerprint verification, in line with the directions of the Cabinet Secretariat and the Ministry of Education, Government of India. The drive is expected to strengthen the integrity of student databases and ensure uninterrupted access to government educational benefits.