New Delhi: The Union Government has made it mandatory to link mobile numbers to Aadhaar numbers.
In a circular sent to telecommunication service providers, the Department of Telecom (DoT) has directed all the companies to re-verify all the
existing mobile subscribers through Aadhaar based E-KYC process.
The service providers have been given one year’s time to verify their users’ numbers.
The circular was issued following the Supreme Court order of February 6, directing it to verify all new phone numbers through the Aadhaar EKYC
process.
DoT also directed the telcos to intimate their customers about the court order through adviertisement in print and electronic media and SMS.
They should also upload the complete details of the activity on their website.
For re-verification, the telecos shall send a verification code to the mobile number of the subscriber. Before intiating the E-KYC process, the
companies shall verify the verification code from the subscriber so as to confirm that the SIM card of the mobile connection is physically available
with the subscriber and is active. After the E-KYC process, before updating the old subscriber detail in their data base, the service providers
should send another SMS with 24 hours seeking confirmation from the subscriber.
If the subscriber does not respond within three days, the re-verification will be treated as positive and the details will be uploaded to the
database.
The circular says that multiple numbers with the same telcom network can be verified through a single E-KYC process. There will be a separate
process for outstation customers and is being formulated. Data cards will be authenticated through an alternative mobile number.
