Aadhaar Re-verification via OTP for Mobile Subscribers from 1st December 2017

All the mobile users are required to link their Aadhaar card number to their mobile number on or before February 6, 2018 positively. Also telecom operators like Airtel, Vodadone, Reliance Jio and Idea Cellular will be rolling out Aadhaar verification via OTP (One Time Password) from 1st December, 2017. Here we are going to explain how this will work for public.
The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), the body in-charge of Aadhaar data, has approved plans by telecom operators to utilize new modes like OTP for Aadhaar-based SIM re-verification of existing subscribers. This new facility will be available from 1st December 2017. All the telecom operators have been instructed by UIDAI to implement this process from 1st December. UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey explained that the
telecom companies have asshred the UIDAI that they will implement OTP-based verification of mobile numbers by month- end and this will allow people to get the verification done without actually visiting the store or retail agent.
	So with this new method subscribers will not have to go a telecom retail store in order to get the re-verification done for Aadhaar linking with their mobile numbers. A subscriber will get the OTP sent to his/her mobile number from UIDAI and this will allow for the re-verification. Currently subscribers have to go to the store and do the eKYC with their fingerprints.
However, there still is a problem that the OTP will only be sent to the mobile number that was registered with Aadhaar. So if one has a new mobile number, which is not linked to his/her Aadhaar card, he/she might not be able to use the OTP method. Unless one still has access to the old SIM, one will not be able to access the OTP.
It may please be noted that now onwardz, linking the Aadhaar number and mobile number is mandatory. The last date for this as we already have pointed out is February 6, 2018. Earlier this month, it was reported that Supreme Court had refused to accept a new plea challenging the linking of mobile numbers with Aadhaar card numbers. The Court is currently listening to several such petitions, which is why it did not accept a new one. In March, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) has issued an order calling for linking of mobile numbers with Aadhaar card data. The latest petition wanted this order to be declared “unconstitutional” and “null and void”.