Govt asks telcos to re-verify subscribers with Aadhaar e-KYC process

Ministry of Communications and Department of Telecommunications on Friday announced that all telecom companies will have to re-verify subscribers with Aadhaar based e-KYC process.

“While taking into cognizance Aadhaar based E-KYC process for issuing new telephone connection issued by the Department, has inter-alia observed that an effective process has been evolved to ensure identity verification, as well as, the addresses of all mobile phone subscribers for new subscribers. In the near future, and more particularly, within one year from today a similar verification will be completed in case of existing subscribers."

The government further said, “This amounts to a direction which is to be completed within a time frame of one year.”

Department of Telecom asked Telecom companies to reverify their existing customers with aadhar @ZeeBusiness @DoT_India pic.twitter.com/ZEOpHIQhNK

— Aseem Manchanda (@aseemmanchanda) March 24, 2017

Supreme Court on February 2 passed an order making it mandatory for all telecom subscribers to once again be re-verified through their Aadhaar card.

The deadline for completion was given as February 6, 2018.

Aadhaar cards have now become of increasing importance as the government has ordered citizens to have a unique identification number for recieving subsidies, employee provident fund accounts and even filing IT returns.

A notice issued by the department read, “All licensees shall intimate their existing subscribers through advertisement in print/electronic media as well as SMS about the orders of the Supreme Court for re-verification activity and shall upload the complete details of this activity on their website.”

The government said that the implementation of the Aadhaar verification process was deliberated over by representatives from Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and Prime Minister’s office.

“The instructions mentioned in subsequent paragraphs shall be strictly followed while carrying out the re-verification exercise,” the government said.