Imphal: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) opened its first state-of-the-art Aadhaar Seva Kendra (ASK) at Wahengbam Leikai, near Hotel Bheigo, in Manipur’s Imphal West district on Thursday, marking another step towards strengthening resident-centric Aadhaar services in the city.
The ASK was inaugurated by N Ashok Kumar, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Home Department, Government of Manipur, in the presence of Ngachan Zimik, Deputy Director General (DDG), UIDAI Regional Office, Guwahati.
Addressing the gathering, N Ashok Kumar said that while Aadhaar enrolment in Manipur has reached around 87–88 per cent, enrolment among children in the 0–5 years age group remains comparatively low.
He said the state government, in coordination with the Social Welfare Department, Health Department, hospitals and UIDAI, is working to improve Aadhaar enrolment among children.
He also appealed to the media to create greater public awareness about the importance of Aadhaar, which has become essential for school admissions, scholarships, educational certificates and various government services.
Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) is required twice during a child’s lifetime, once after attaining the age of five years and again at the age of 15 years. An Aadhaar with updated biometrics enables seamless access to essential services such as school admissions, registration for entrance examinations, scholarships and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes, wherever applicable.
The MBU is currently available free of cost until September 30, 2026, and parents and guardians have been encouraged to complete their children’s biometric updates within this period.
The chief guest urged the public to make full use of the newly inaugurated Aadhaar Seva Kendra while also availing Aadhaar services provided through Deputy Commissioners’ offices and other authorised enrolment centres across the state.
N Ashok Kumar appreciated UIDAI’s efforts and interacted with residents visiting the ASK as well as the centre staff. He also enquired about the Aadhaar enrolment and update procedures and reviewed the various services being provided at the centre.
He appealed to the people of Manipur to visit the newly opened Aadhaar Seva Kendra in Imphal to access Aadhaar-related services in a hassle-free manner.
The ASK Imphal is equipped with five operational kits to provide seamless Aadhaar-related services to thousands of residents. The centre remains open on all days except public holidays, ensuring greater accessibility and convenience.
The Aadhaar Seva Kendra offers Aadhaar enrolment, demographic and biometric updates, grievance redressal and other Aadhaar-related services under one roof.
Speaking on the occasion, Ngachan Zimik, DDG, UIDAI Regional Office, Guwahati, stressed the importance of achieving Aadhaar enrolment saturation in Manipur and the need for Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBU) for children between five and 17 years of age.
He said timely biometric updates are necessary to prevent suspension of Aadhaar and ensure uninterrupted access to services requiring Aadhaar authentication.
The new centre will benefit a large number of people by providing easier, faster and more convenient access to Aadhaar enrolment and update services. UIDAI-run Aadhaar Seva Kendras are designed to be inclusive and resident-friendly, with facilities such as wheelchair accessibility, accessible restrooms and a dedicated grievance redressal mechanism.