NEW DELHI: Outlining a detailed procedure for telecom operators to undertake mobile re-verification of foreign nationals and NRIs, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has asked the companies to operationalise the process for these subscribers by January 1 next year.
Foreign nationals who have Indian mobile numbers can now verify their mobile numbers by filling an online form. The requisite documents like copies of passport and visa may be uploaded through the website of their service provider.
Non-resident Indians, senior citizens who are above 70 and physically challenged persons who either do not have Aadhaar or their mobile number is not registered with the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) can also fill an online form along with proof of residence or age or handicap, depending upon the category.
The procedure has been spelt out for re-verification of mobile connections of foreign nationals, as well as NRI subscribers who either do not have Aadhaar or their mobile number is not registered with the Unique Identification Authority of India.
The DoT has also given re-verification procedure for senior citizens who are above 70 years not having Aadhaar, are unable to do biometric authentication or are physically challenged.
Various representations had been received from Non Resident Indian, Overseas Indians and foreign nationals citing difficulties being faced by them in re-verification of their Indian mobile connections, the DoT said.
The difficulties arose because this set of subscribers did not have Aadhaar and nor were they eligible to enrol for the 12-digital biometric identifier.
The DoT has also informed operators about the procedure for IVRS-based One Time Password authentication of telecom subscribers whose mobile number is registered with Aadhaar.
The DoT order states that the telecom service provides must ensure that mobile users from these categories “shall be able to re-verify their mobile connections through these alternative methods” by January 1, 2018.
The deadline for mobile re-verification is February 6. Other users can also re-verify their identity over the phone through a secure line provided by their service providers.
In all these cases a one time password (OTP) sent to the mobile numbers will be considered as a signature of the mobile user. The service providers will need to verify the demographic information of the Aadhaar number submitted, either for self or as a trusted person, for every re-verification request.
They will have to send a request to verify the demographic information available with the Unique Identification Authority of India. (AGENCIES)
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