The deadline for linking mobile numbers with Aadhaar is approaching, but there must be a lot of users who're yet to complete the process. Today, Aadhaar body UIDAI has directed all the Indian telecom operators to provide a facility which will enable the subscribers to check the mobile numbers linked to their Aadhaar number. This move from UIDAI is to curb the unauthorised use of a user's Aadhaar. Last month, a Twitter user posted about the same issue as her Aadhaar was already linked with nine mobile numbers and she wasn't even aware of the same.
With that said, UIDAI stated that it came to know about some retailers, operators and agents of telecom companies allegedly misusing the Aadhaar authentication system to re-verify the SIM cards other than that of the Aadhaar holder. This news is reported by Press Trust of India (PTI).
This is a very good move by UIDAI and will also help users. "Warning telecom operators to ensure that their retailer and agents do not indulge in any fraudulent activities, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has directed telcos to make the new facility available to subscribers by March 15," added the report. Telecom operators have already rolled out IVRS and OTP based re-verification methods.
So telcos should come up with a solution before March 15, which is exactly ten days from now and the final deadline to re-verify a mobile number with Aadhaar is March 31, 2018.
That said, once this new service rolls out, mobile subscribers will be able to check whether their mobile number is linked with Aadhaar and can also check any other mobile numbers are linked with their Aadhaar. The service will be based on an SMS-based offering; maybe customers will be required to send an SMS, post that telcos will send the details.
Ajay Bhushan Pandey, UIDAI CEO when approached by the reporters said, "In order, for people, to know which mobile number is linked to Aadhaar, all telecom operators have been asked to provide this service to their customers by March 15."
As of December 8, 2017, over 712 million subscribers have already re-verified their mobile number with Aadhaar, but still, there are a lot of users looking to get the verification done before the deadline.
