Airtel, Idea Cellular begin Aadhaar-based Verification for existing customers.No Aadhaar? Phone users to lose their numbers.

In  March, the Department of Telecom issued a directive to all mobile phone companies in India saying that they need to re-verify all mobile phone users in India through Aadhaar card. Now, the telecom companies like Airtel and Idea have started sending consumers messages telling them that their number will have to be linked to and verified with Aadhaar.

Companies have also started putting messages in their stores to inform users. One such message in an Airtel store reads, "Link your Aadhaar card to you number now to stay active! As per the Government of India, this is mandatory to enjoy continued services".Earlier DoT had stated that February 06, 2018 would be the deadline for the telecom companies to complete the re-verification with Aadhaar and linking process.

"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," stated the government notice.

The DoT had sent a notice to all incumbent telecom operators in the country to verify the details of their users through KYC using Aadhaar. It is mandatory to verify and  link every phone number to Aadhaar card. If not, the connection can be cut down by the operator itself.  Airtel and Idea subscribers have started receiving messages.

• Once you receive the SMS, visit the nearest retail store of your network.

• Carry your Aadhaar card and phone number also. Now provide these details to the assigned person at the store.

• The person will send a verification code on your number.

• Confirm that verification code to the store personnel.

• You will then be asked for your fingerprint verification.

• You will receive a final verification SMS within 24 hours. Simply revert the message with a Y.

• Your phone number has now been linked to your Aadhaar card.

This process is seemingly for the Airtel and Idea numbers. Other operators will put in place similar mechanism to complete the verification.

The move to link all phone numbers to Aadhaar card comes after Supreme Court in February ordered that all  phone numbers in India should be verified. Though the court did not specify the use of Aadhaar, government decided that it would use Aadhaar for the whole exercise. Recently, government also made Aadhaar card mandatory for filing Income Tax returns and applying for PAN card. Also, it is now mandatory to link your PAN to Aadhaar card. If not done, that PAN card will become invalid after June 30.