Family-based Aadhaar enrolment for children below the age of five will now be mandatory, as part of changes introduced by the Centre to the Aadhaar enrolment and update process.The government on Friday notified revised rules and a fresh list of acceptable documents for Aadhaar enrolment and updates.The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has amended the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, 2016, with enrolment of children up to five years of age now compulsory through the Head of Family (HoF)-based system. Parents or legal guardians must possess a valid Aadhaar number for such enrolment.The child’s Aadhaar address will be the same as that recorded in the Aadhaar of the Head of Family. The notification also makes biometric authentication of one parent or legal guardian mandatory during enrolment.Birth certificate has been recognised as the primary document for proof of date of birth and relationship. Under the revised framework, separate categories of valid documents have been prescribed for children, adults, foreign nationals, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders, Nepal and Bhutan citizens and transgender persons for Aadhaar enrolment and updation.Sources say the move seeks to strengthen document verification and transparency in the Aadhaar system.For persons aged 18 years and above, UIDAI has approved an expanded list of documents for Aadhaar enrolment and updates. These include passport, ration card, voter identity card, driving licence, pensioner card, government service identity card, bank-related documents, electricity and water bills, gas connection bills, insurance documents and property-related papers.Transgender identity cards or certificates issued under the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019, will now be accepted as valid proof of identity, address and date of birth. These documents can also be used for name and gender updates in Aadhaar records.Aadhaar issued to OCI cardholders and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan will remain valid for 10 years and to long-term visa holders only till the validity of the visa. For other foreign nationals, validity will be linked to the visa or Foreigners’ Regional Registration Office registration certificate.Importantly, new regulations recognise certificates issued by MPs, MLAs, municipal councillors, gazetted officers, tehsildars and gram panchayat heads as valid proof of address in specified cases. The provision will aid those in rural areas lacking formal address documents.