According to new guidelines, telecom operators will provide an online mechanism for people to request such services and schedule a visit to complete the process based on availability.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has recommended simplification of the process of linking Aadhaar with registered mobile numbers. The proposal will make the service available at the doorsteps of subscribers.
The new measures include reverification via three ways — one time password (OTP) , app-based linking, and Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS) facility. These new methods will help subscribers get their mobile number linked to Aadhaar without visiting the stores of telecom service providers, Minister for Communications Manoj Sinha said on Wednesday.
According to new guidelines, telecom operators will provide an online mechanism for people to request such services and schedule a visit to complete the process based on availability. DoT has also recommended for reverification at their own houses for senior citizens and people with disability and chronic illness.
Subscribers can verify or reverify their mobile numbers from anywhere in the country irrespective of which service area their mobile connection belongs to.
"The Aadhaar number system was designed to allow all residents of the country access to critical government services and important information that they may need from time to time. Mobile penetration is increasing rapidly in the country, and the subscribers need to be provided with easier ways to link Aadhaar number with mobile number," Sinha said.
A representative of Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said, "It will take a little time to implement the directions. We are working closely with the government to improve and enhance the convenience of our consumers for undertaking Aadhaar based e-KYC linking of their mobile number."
In August, DoT had given instructions to telecom service providers to provide IRIS or fingerprint based authentication of Aadhaar. In keeping with privacy rules, the DoT also mandated that telecom service providers' agent should not have access to the subscribers' e-KYC data and only the name and address of the subscribers should be visible, according to an official statement.
About 500 million mobile numbers are already registered with Aadhaar database, which is why an OTP system can be used for reverification in all of these cases.
Aadhaar-based e-KYC is essential for subscribers going for new SIMs. The government has asked mobile operators to reverify existing prepaid and postpaid customers with the help of the 12-digit unique identity number, following Supreme Court's order in February. The reverification exercise is scheduled to be completed by early 2018.
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