What is Baal Aadhaar Card, How to Apply & Check Status Online/Offline?

Baal Aadhaar Card is a biometric identification card given to children under five years old by the UIDAI authority of India. Like the regular Aadhaar card, Baal Aadhaar does not involve biometric conformity; hence, it is easy for kids to apply for it.

Applicants seeking a Baal Aadhaar card are usually the child's parents or guardians. They can apply for it through the UIDAI portal or physically at an enrollment centre.

This guide will teach you about registration, required documents, and more.

The Baal Aadhaar card is a 12-digit unique identification number provided to children under five by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). It is linked with the Aadhaar card of one parent, and obtaining it does not require any biometric data.

What is the Minimum Age for Baal Aadhaar Card?

The minimum age for obtaining a Baal Aadhaar card is birth. Newborns and children up to five years old are eligible for the card.

The eligibility for the Baal Aadhaar card, or the blue Aadhaar card for children under five, is simple since the process only entails registration. There are two ways to complete the registration: online and offline, by the parents or guardians.

Baal Aadhaar Card Online Registration Process

Step 1: Go to the official website of UIDAI.

Step 2: Select your preferred language

Step 3: Navigate to the ‘My Aadhaar’ tab and use the ‘Book an Appointment’ tab provided.

Step 4: In ‘Book an Appointment at a UIDAI-run Aadhaar Seva Kendra,’ type your city's name and then click ‘Proceed to Book Appointment.’

Step 5: Put the mobile number, put the captcha, and then click ‘Get OTP.’

Step 6: Input the received OTP and choose the date for a meeting session.

Step 7: A text message will flash the date of the enrollment session.

Step 8: Eventually, on the day specified at the time of enrollment, take the above-stated documents and visit the Aadhaar Enrollment Centre.

Baal Aadhaar Card Offline Registration Process

Step 1: Find an Aadhaar Enrollment Center near you through the UIDAI website or otherwise.

Step 2: Go to the identified Aadhaar Enrollment Centre and ask one of the officials for an application form for a Baal Aadhaar card. Provide all relevant information in the spaces provided as competently as you can.

Step 3: The parent whose Aadhaar card will be linked must provide a fingerprint and iris scan and present the Aadhaar card. The child's biometrics are not necessary.

Step 4: The parent or guardian must complete the application form in full and attach the required documents, including the child's birth certificate and Aadhaar card. After photocopying the original documents, the officials shall return them.

Step 5: Procure an acknowledgement slip with the centre's acknowledgement number. This slip can be used to follow up on the application for the Baal Aadhaar card.

After successfully obtaining the enrollment number from the Aadhaar enrolment centre, the UIDAI will process the offline registration and send the Baal Aadhaar card to the registered address within 60-90 days.

Baal Aadhaar Card Registration for Children Below 5 Years Old

The application process for Baal Aadhaar cards for children below 5 years old slightly differs from those above 5. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Visit your nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre.

Step 2: Complete the enrolment form and submit it along with valid documents and one of the parent’s Aadhaar card details.

Step 3: You will get an acknowledgement slip, which can help you track the status of your baby’s Aadhaar card.

The Baal Aadhaar card is supposed to arrive within 90 days from the date of application.

Baal Aadhaar Card Registration for Children Above 5 Years Old

As mentioned above, applying for a Baal Aadhaar card for a child above 5 will slightly differ from the application process for children below 5 years. Here are the steps to follow:

Step 1: Visit your nearest Aadhaar enrolment centre with your child.

Step 2: Complete the enrolment form and submit it with valid documents.

Step 3: Next, the executive will take your child's biometric information (fingerprint).

Step 4: You will get an acknowledgement slip that can be used to track the status of your child’s Aadhaar card.

Your child's Baal Aadhaar card will arrive within 90 days from the date of application.

A Baal Aadhaar card is meant for children below five years of age and has limited validity. It is only active until the child is five years old; after that, it ceases to be active. To make the card functional again, the parents need to register the child’s biometric details after the child attains the age of five years.

This process ensures that the card remains useful as the child grows up because there is always a new page to be added with more information. Besides, in the case of a child, another biometric update is needed when the child attains fifteen years of age to keep the Aadhaar system relevant and effective throughout the child's developmental stages.

Follow the steps below to download the Baal Aadhaar card of your child:

Step 1: Visit the official UIDAI website.

Step 2: Navigate to the “Get Aadhaar” tab and look for the option called “Download Aadhaar”.

Step 3: Enter the necessary identification details (Aadhaar number, enrollment ID or virtual ID) and carry out a captcha check.

Step 4: To proceed, enter the required OTP and click the right button to get one.

Step 5: Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number on the next page.

Step 6: Confirm your identity by clicking the “Verify & Download” button.

Step 7: Finally, download the Baal Aadhaar card and save the soft copy on your device.

Step 1: Visit the UIDAI’s official website.

Step 2: Choose the “Check Aadhaar Status” option from the “Check Aadhaar Status” category.

Step 3: Key in the 28-digit number you received via SMS on the linked mobile phone.

Step 4: Then input the UID number or a unique identification number into the field where it is requested.

Step 5: Type the characters shown in the captcha or password box if one appears on the screen.

Step 6: Fill in all the necessary information and click the “Submit” button.

Based on the information received from the site, suppose the application is in progress. In that case, you can view the status of your Baal Aadhaar card along with the expected date of preparation.

The Baal Aadhaar card, among many other benefits, acts as an identification card that aids in the official documentation of children and their admission to government schools and hospitals and manages their essential government services and schemes. Some key benefits include:

• Official Identity: It contains a child’s identification number and can be used as an identification document from a tender age.

• School Admissions: This card is needed in most schools, as it is accepted as one form of identification for admission.

• Access to Government Services: This allows children to receive government schemes, subsidies, scholarships, welfare benefits, food aid, etc.

• Healthcare Access: The card may be needed for vaccinations, medical care, treatments, or other healthcare services.

• Travel Identification: It can be used by train or air or as an identification document while checking into a hotel.

• Mid-Day Meal Program: In such a system, the card is needed as a form of identification to enable the child or student to benefit from the government's mid-day meal support.

• Tracking Beneficiaries: It assists the government in ensuring that all those targeted for unique benefits through child-sensitive programmes are well-known, quantified, and monitored to eliminate fraud in delivering such services.

• Mid-Day Meal Program: You must possess the card to benefit from the government-provided mid-day school meals.

• Tracking Beneficiaries: It assists the government in ensuring that all those targeted for unique benefits through child-sensitive programmes are well-known, quantified, and monitored to eliminate fraud in delivering such services.

Admitting that having an Aadhaar card is crucial and compulsory for every resident of the country, the UIDAI has the Baal Aadhaar card that makes identification possible for children below five years of age. 

The Baal Aadhaar card will help the government provide an effective identification card to all citizens from childhood and help the country's poor citizens to avail themselves of the various services and welfare schemes.