Are mysterious mobile numbers linked with your Aadhaar Number??

      

          UIDAI CEO Ajay Pandey has informed to public at large that UIDAI has advised all telecom companies operating in India to enable a facility that will allow subscribers to check the mobile SIMs which are linked to their Aadhaar number.

The primary reason for this facility is to guard Aadhaar Numbers being linked to unauthorized mobiles.

Instead of the word ‘unauthorised’, the words ‘unknown’, or ‘mysterious’, are more apt.

UIDAI provides an ‘Aadhaar authentication history’, tool to enable Aadhaar holders to verify when their Aadhaar number was verified. However as UIDAI does not store the authentication purpose, it is of limited usage.

Aadhaar is becoming the default identity proof of residents by various government and non-government entities.

          Telecom companies have been mandated to link the cellphone SIMS with Aadhaar Numbers. This is to establish the identity of mobile phone users.

Against the 142.9 crore active mobile subscribers, in 85.7 crore cases the mobile connections have already been linked with Aadhaar.

And, it is here where the problems have surfaced. UIDAI came to know about some retailers, operators and agents of telecom companies allegedly misusing Aadhaar authentication facility to issue new SIMs or for re-verification of numbers other than that of the Aadhaar holder. Such complaints must have reached a very high number for UIDAI to take corrective steps.

When contacted, UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey told PTI, “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.”

Hence, UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) has directed all telecom operators to provide a facility that will enable their subscribers to check if the mobile SIMs are linked with their Aadhaar number, a step to guard against any unauthorised use.

UIDAI has directed telcos to make the new facility available to subscribers by March 15.

The telcos have been asked to provide the facility, including SMS-based offering that will allow their subscribers to check whether their mobile number is linked with Aadhaar as well as information on other mobile numbers is issued or verified against that Aadhaar number.

As the deadline approaches, there would be more clarity on the exact process flow including the redressal channel.

Once the process goes live, it is advisable for every mobile holder to make use of this facility atleast once every week.

This is best way to safeguard your Aadhaar number.

Would it be better to integrate this facility into ‘Mycall’ Trai App??

Additional Reading:

How to Check Aadhaar Authentication History Online

Aadhaar linking to bank accounts, welfare services may be extended beyond March 31

Regulatory policies must change to cater to digital world: Trai chief