Patna: The Bihar government plans to reopen Aadhaar service centres in government schools across Patna district, with two centres to be established in every administrative block, officials said.
Acting on directions from the Bihar Education Project Council, the district education office has begun identifying suitable government schools where the centres can operate. The move is intended to make it easier for parents to obtain Aadhaar cards for their children, particularly ahead of the new academic session.
According to officials, the centres will cater exclusively to children enrolled in government and private schools. Block education officers have been instructed to submit the names of schools that meet the basic requirements, including the availability of electricity and adequate rooms to house the facilities.
An agency to operate the centres is expected to be selected within a month. The formal process of setting up the facilities in coordination with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) is to be completed within 60 days of the agency’s appointment.
Similar centres were launched in schools across the district in 2024, with two centres per block. However, they were later shut down following disputes over non-payment to the operating agency and complaints that some operators were charging families for Aadhaar enrolment. In response, the education department ordered their closure.
Officials say reopening the centres within schools will help ensure easier access for students, streamline the linking of Aadhaar numbers with bank accounts for the transfer of government benefits, and assist authorities in verifying identity details. The initiative is also expected to simplify the registration of students on the education department’s online portal.
