Ladakh secures top honour for Aadhaar child biometric efforts

Ladakh has been recognised as the best performing Union Territory in the country for executing Mandatory Biometric Updates (MBUs) of children, during the Aadhaar Samvaad-2025 event held in New Delhi.

Hosted by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), Aadhaar Samvaad is UIDAI’s annual flagship event that celebrates innovation, excellence, and collaboration among stakeholders across the Aadhaar ecosystem.

The event serves as a platform to acknowledge outstanding contributions toward the effective implementation and strengthening of Aadhaar-related services. An official spokesperson said “This award highlights Ladakh’s exemplary performance in ensuring timely and comprehensive biometric updates for children—an essential measure to maintain an accurate and up-to-date Aadhaar database and to ensure that every child’s identity is securely recorded and authenticated”.

The award was received by Shashanka Ala, Secretary, Information Technology Department, who represented the Union Territory at the event.

Speaking at the ceremony, Shashanka Ala said “we are deeply honoured by this recognition. This achievement is a result of dedicated teamwork and our commitment to inclusive digital governance. Facilitating biometric updates for children, especially in a geographically challenging region like Ladakh, reflects the resilience and dedication of our teams on the ground”.

The UIDAI commended Ladakh’s efforts, emphasising the significance of MBUs in safeguarding children’s identities and enabling their access to essential services linked to Aadhaar.