The Aadhaar card is a vital document in India that serves as a proof of identity and address for various purposes. But did you know that there is a special type of Aadhaar card for children below 5 years old? It is called the Blue Aadhaar card or Baal Aadhaar card, and it has some unique features and benefits. Here is everything you need to know about the Blue Aadhaar card and how to apply for it.

What is the Blue Aadhaar card?

The Blue Aadhaar card is a blue-colored Aadhaar card that is issued specifically for children aged 5 and below. Unlike the regular Aadhaar card, the Blue Aadhaar card does not require the biometric data of the child, such as fingerprints and iris scans, to be captured. This is because the biometric data of children changes rapidly as they grow up, and hence, it is not reliable for identification purposes.

The Blue Aadhaar card is linked to the Aadhaar number of one of the parents or guardians of the child. This ensures that the child’s identity and address are verified through the parent’s Aadhaar card. The Blue Aadhaar card also has the child’s photograph and date of birth printed on it.

Why is the Blue Aadhaar card important?

The Blue Aadhaar card has several advantages for the child and the parent. Some of them are:

It enables the child to access various government schemes and benefits that require an Aadhaar card, such as scholarships, subsidies, and immunizations.
It simplifies the verification process for various services and applications, such as school admissions, bank accounts, and passports.
It facilitates the domestic travel within India, especially when accompanied by the parent’s Aadhaar card.
It acts as a valid proof of identity and address for the child until they turn 15 years old, after which they need to update their biometric data and get a regular Aadhaar card.

How to apply for the Blue Aadhaar card?

There are two ways to apply for the Blue Aadhaar card for your child:

Online: You can visit the official website of the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) at 6

and book an appointment for Aadhaar enrolment. You need to select the option of “New Aadhaar” and enter your mobile number and captcha. Then, you need to choose the option of “Child (0-5 years)” under the “Relationship with Head of Family” section. You need to fill in the required details about your child and select a nearby Aadhaar Seva Kendra for the appointment.
Offline: You can visit any Aadhaar Seva Kendra or Permanent Enrolment Centre and inform the officials that you want to enrol your child for the Blue Aadhaar card. You need to fill out the Aadhaar enrolment form and submit the required documents.

What are the documents required?

The documents required for applying for the Blue Aadhaar card are:

Parent’s Aadhaar card: You need to provide the Aadhaar card of either of the parents or guardians of the child. This will be used to link the child’s Aadhaar number to the parent’s Aadhaar number.
Child’s birth certificate: You need to provide the birth certificate of the child as a proof of their date of birth and name.
Address proof of parent: You need to provide a proof of address of the parent or guardian, such as a ration card, electricity bill, or voter ID card.
Two passport-sized photographs of the child: You need to provide two recent passport-sized photographs of the child. Alternatively, you can also get the photograph taken at the enrolment centre.

What are the things to remember?

There are some important things to remember while applying for the Blue Aadhaar card:

Only one parent or guardian needs to be present during the enrolment process. The parent or guardian needs to provide their biometric data for verification.
The Blue Aadhaar card is valid until the child turns 15 years old. After that, the child needs to update their biometric data and get a regular Aadhaar card.
The Blue Aadhaar card is free of cost and there is no fee involved in the enrolment process.
The Blue Aadhaar card will be delivered to the registered address of the parent or guardian within 90 days of the enrolment.