Now, you can link Aadhaar with mobile number online

Mobile users can now link their Aadhaar number with their phone number online, instead of visiting their service provider to abide by the norm.

For online linking, submit unique identification number (Aadhaar) using a One Time Password (OTP) based option to be made available soon, or log on to the service provider's mobile App and link Aadhaar with  mobile number.

Subscribers can also link their Aadhaar using IVRS (Interactive Voice Response System).

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on Wednesday issued “comprehensive instructions” for linking of Aadhaar with mobile numbers in its bid to expedite compliance with the Supreme Court's order.

“As per the new rules, the DoT has introduced three new methods to link a registered mobile number with Aadhaar i.e. OTP (One Time Password) based, App based and the IVRS facility. These new methods will help subscribers get their mobile number linked to Aadhaar without visiting the stores of the telcos,” the department said in a statement.

For the ease of senior citizens and people with disability or chronic illness, the DoT has also recommended re-verification at subscribers’ doorstep.

According to the new guidelines, the telecom operators should activate an online mechanism for people to request such service and based on their availability, they could pay a visit and complete the process, the Ministry added.

“Mobile penetration is increasing rapidly in the country and the subscribers need to be provided with the ease of linking Aadhaar number with mobile number. It is the government’s endeavour to improve convenience and reduce the time and energy spent by consumers to access government information and services that are their right,” Communications Minister Manoj Sinha said.

The Aadhaar number was designed to enable all residents of the country to access critical government services and important information, he added.

Industry welcomes
“The latest clarification from the DoT are aligned with what industry and the subscribers need. While 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,” Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) said.

In a circular in August, the DoT had given instructions to the telecom service providers to provide for iris or fingerprint based authentication of Aadhaar. In keeping with privacy rules, the DoT also mandated that telecom service providers' agents should not have access to the subscribers' e-KYC data and only the name and address of the subscribers should be visible.
DH News Service