Manipur's first UIDAI Aadhaar Seva Kendra has opened in Imphal, offering Aadhaar enrolment, biometric updates and grievance services under one roof.
Imphal, July 30: Manipur has received its first dedicated Aadhaar Seva Kendra (ASK), with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) inaugurating a state-of-the-art centre at Wahengbam Leikai in Imphal West district to improve access to Aadhaar enrolment and update services.
The new facility, located near Hotel Bheigo, was inaugurated on Thursday by N. Ashok Kumar, IAS, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Home Department, Government of Manipur, in the presence of senior UIDAI officials and state government representatives.
Among those present were Ngachan Zimik, Deputy Director General (DDG), UIDAI Regional Office, Guwahati; Col. Abhishek Koushik, Director, UIDAI Regional Office, Guwahati; Subhash Singh, IAS, Additional Secretary, Home Department; and Mayanglambam Rajkumar Singh, IAS, Deputy Commissioner of Imphal West.
The opening of the Aadhaar Seva Kendra marks the first dedicated UIDAI-operated facility in Manipur and is expected to provide residents with faster, more convenient and resident-friendly Aadhaar services under one roof.
Speaking at the inauguration, N. Ashok Kumar described the establishment of the state's first Aadhaar Seva Kendra as an important milestone in strengthening public service delivery. He thanked UIDAI Regional Office, Guwahati, for setting up the centre, noting that the Home Department had been pursuing the proposal for several years before it became a reality.
He said Aadhaar has evolved into an essential identity document for accessing a wide range of public services, including school admissions, scholarships, educational certificates and welfare schemes.
According to the Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Aadhaar enrolment in Manipur has reached approximately 87–88 percent, although enrolment among children aged 0–5 years remains comparatively low.
To bridge this gap, he said the State Government is working in coordination with the Social Welfare Department, Health Department, hospitals and UIDAI to improve enrolment among young children. He also appealed to the media to help spread awareness about the importance of Aadhaar registration and timely updates.
Ashok Kumar encouraged residents to make full use of the newly inaugurated centre while continuing to access Aadhaar services through Deputy Commissioners' offices and other authorised enrolment centres operating across the state.
Following the inauguration, he interacted with residents visiting the centre and reviewed the Aadhaar enrolment and update process with staff members. He urged people to visit the facility to avail themselves of Aadhaar-related services in a hassle-free manner.
The Imphal Aadhaar Seva Kendra has been equipped with five operational service kits, enabling it to handle Aadhaar enrolment, demographic updates, biometric updates, grievance redressal and other Aadhaar-related services efficiently.
The centre will remain open on all working days except public holidays, providing greater accessibility and convenience to residents from Imphal and neighbouring districts.
According to UIDAI, the dedicated centre is expected to significantly reduce waiting time and improve the quality of Aadhaar services for thousands of residents.
Addressing the gathering, UIDAI Deputy Director General Ngachan Zimik emphasised the need to achieve Aadhaar enrolment saturation in Manipur and urged parents to complete the Mandatory Biometric Update (MBU) for eligible children.
He explained that biometric updates are compulsory twice during a child's lifetime—once after attaining the age of five years and again after turning 15 years. Timely updates help prevent suspension of Aadhaar authentication and ensure uninterrupted access to services that require Aadhaar verification.
He noted that updated Aadhaar biometrics are essential for school admissions, entrance examination registration, scholarship applications and Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes wherever Aadhaar authentication is required.
UIDAI informed that the Mandatory Biometric Update for eligible children will remain free of cost until September 30, 2026, and appealed to parents and guardians to complete the process within the stipulated period.
UIDAI stated that the Aadhaar Seva Kendra has been designed as a fully inclusive public service centre with wheelchair accessibility, accessible washrooms and a dedicated grievance redressal mechanism to ensure services are available to all sections of society.
Residents can also schedule appointments online before visiting the centre through UIDAI's official appointment portal, reducing waiting time and improving service delivery.
Officials said the new facility is expected to substantially improve Aadhaar enrolment and update services for residents of Imphal and adjoining areas by offering a single-window platform for all major Aadhaar-related requirements.
