NEW DELHI: There is some good news for consumers who are struggling to get a mobile phone SIM card without an Aadhaar card. The government has issued guidelines to operators to allow alternative identification documents such as driving licence, passport and voter ID card.
All Mobile companies have been asked to follow the new guidelines “immediately” so that consumers are not faced difficulty, telecom secretary Aruna Sundararajan informed.
The top Court has already clarified that Aadhaar is not mandatory for obtaining Mobile SIM cards until it takes a final view.
The ministry has issued orders to all telecom companies, asking them not to disallow a SIM card to any individual who does not have an Aadhaar number. Now Mobile companies can accept other forms of KYC (know your customer) documents, and carry on issuing SIM cards.
The issue of the Aadhaar card had not only made an impact on local residents but even NRIs and foreigners who are visiting the country. Since the mainstream of such individuals did not have an Aadhaar card, and retailers of mobile companies had started rejecting them to give SIM cards. Mobile operators have so far denied commenting on the matter. However, official sources stated the government has taken it as a serious issue.