Big relief! UIDAI says mobile nos issued through Aadhaar will not be discontinued

Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Thursday made it clear that there is no threat of discontinuation of mobile numbers issued using Aadhaar.

UIDAI also mentioned that in case users want to get their Aadhaar eKYC replaced with fresh KYC, they can ask their service provider for the same. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: Following the Supreme Court's verdict that barred usage of the national biometric ID by private companies, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Thursday made it clear that there is no threat of discontinuation of mobile numbers issued using Aadhaar. Rubbishing the reports that around 50 crore SIMs in the country will be deactivated and users will have to provide fresh documents to revive their connections, UIDAI in a joint statement with the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) said that mobile phone users at their choice can seek a change of their Aadhaar-based authentication done in the past with alternate proof of identity without any disconnection of the number. “The Department of Telecommunications @DoT_India and Unique Identification Authority of India in a #JointPressStatement today clarified that a few news reports in the media which state that 50 cr mobile nos., are at the risk of disconnection, are completely untrue & imaginary,” UIDAI said earlier today. “The news report tries to create unnecessary panic among mobile users by claiming that they stare a prospect of disconnection if SIM cards procured on the basis of Aadhaar verification are not backed up by a fresh identification,” the statement read further. Telecom operators of the country have been given a deadline of October 15 to comply with the apex court’s directive to close Aadhar-based verification for offering their services. In the sidelines of the same, DoT and UIDAI have made it clear that apex court’s order does not direct for disconnection of SIM cards issued via Aadhaar eKYC. UIDAI also mentioned that in case users want to get their Aadhaar eKYC replaced with fresh KYC, they can ask their service provider for the same. Users will have to submit fresh official valid documents, which could be the copy of their passport or PAN card, as per earlier DOT Circulars on mobile KYC. But in any case, no mobile number will be disconnected. However, the two bodies also clarified that there is no need for telecom companies to delete authentication logs at their end. “They are in fact required to keep Authentication logs at their end as per Aadhaar regulations to resolves any consumer grievances,” the joint statement said. Going further, UIDAI and DoT have also informed that the work is in progress to bring out a hassle-free and digital process to issue new SIM cards via a mobile app.