Linking Aadhaar Number

Linking Aadhaar Number 

By Dr. Lalit Kumar Setia |  @drlalitsetia  |  drlalitsetia@gmail.com 

The Aadhaar has been widely accepted as bio-metric identity all around the world. It has become a tool to restrict the corruption in case of Public Distribution System, award of scholarships, providing subsidies to the right beneficiary and ensuring access of ‘Below Poverty Line’ people to the monetary benefits to be provided by the Government. However, instead of government’s instructions and orders of Supreme Court, the implementation of Aadhaar as bio-metric identity in India, is still a challenge. Every citizen should be aware about 'for which purposes, Aadhaar Seeding is mandatory and for which, it is not mandatory'. 

Linking Aadhaar for Governance in Public Services:

As per the orders of Supreme Court, the Aadhaar is mandatory to be linked with Permanent Account Number (PAN) so that the problem of people having two PAN can be sorted out. A person should be eligible to get only one PAN and in case, any person has two or more PAN, it is strictly illegal and action is required to be taken. Secondly, the Aadhaar is must to be linked with the schemes of Government in order to ensure the accessibility of right beneficiaries as per the terms of the scheme. It has been noticed that sometimes the beneficiary’s identity is used by other people and linking of Aadhaar will make it impossible.

Linking Aadhaar for Strengthening Public Distribution System:

The rationing system under Public Distribution System is strengthened after linking the Aadhaar with the Depot holders. Now in addition to signatures or thumb impression in register, it is mandatory to record the bio-metric presence of beneficiary with a device. It has stopped the illegal distribution of ration to be provided to the beneficiary.

Linking Aadhaar with the Sim Card of Mobiles:

In January 2018, Supreme Court of India passed an order to link Aadhaar Number with the Sim Card of Mobile and re-verified it at the earliest otherwise the mobile number will be deactivated by the telecom operators. The new sim cards whenever issued to the subscribers will require bio-metric identity of the subscriber and without bio-metric identity, the Sim card will not be issued. It is ordered to ensure the right person to get the connection of mobile number. It has stopped the bogus connections in others’ name with others’ identity. This also helps in enforcing the legal controls.

Procedure for linking old Sim Cards with Aadhaar:

However, the Supreme Court has ordered the it is not mandatory to link the mobile number with Aadhaar but in case, the subscriber required to link it with the mobile number, then there are two ways to link Aadhaar with the sim card. 

(a) With the help of store or retail outlets: 

The shopkeepers (store or retail outlets) relating to selling recharges, mobile accessories have been authorised to link the Aadhaar with Mobile Number. The linking Aadhaar with mobile number require visiting to telecom operator’s outlet or store with self-attested copy of Aadhaar card. The store executive will enter the Aadhaar number and mobile number in a device and the subscriber will receive a One Time Password (OTP), after providing OTP to store executive, it will be required to provide fingerprints. A confirmation message will come on the mobile number and it will be required to reply with ‘Y’ to complete the e-KYC process. 

(b) With the help of IVR facility of telecom operator: 

The subscriber calls on operator’s toll-free number and follows the IVR instructions and select option to link Aadhaar with mobile number. Thereafter the 12-digit Aadhaar number is entered and confirmed. The mobile number is linked and also re-verified. A confirmation message is also received on the mobile number on successful verification.

But even after linking the Aadhaar, a person would like to re-verify whether the Aadhaar has been linked with the mobile number or not. The Supreme Court also directed to re-verify the linking of Aadhaar with Mobile Number. Here, it is explained how can a person easily re-verify the linked mobile number in order to avoid the deactivation of mobile number:

Method to re-verify Aadhaar Linking: 

The mobile number which is required to be re-verified; dial 14546 from that number. It will ask whether you are Indian or Non-Resident Indian. Select the exact option; then it will be asked to give consent for re-verification of Aadhaar by pressing 1; press 1 thereafter, enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number followed by confirming with pressing 1 again. The network will generate an OTP and send to the registered mobile number. Thereafter, it will be required to give consent to the telecom operator by accessing name, photo and DOB from UIDAI. The IVR will read out the last 4 digits of the linked mobile number. If the digits are accurate then enter the OTP received and press 1. The linking of Aadhaar is re-verified. It is mandatory to re-verify the linking of Aadhaar card with mobile number.

Aadhaar Verdict in December 2018 and Aadhaar Not Mandatory for:

The Supreme court of India declared that it is not mandatory to link the Aadhaar with Sim Card, Bank Accounts, Online Wallets, Admission and Examination of Students etc. However, in order to get subsidies of Government and filing of Income Tax; the Aadhaar is still mandatory. As per the decision of the Supreme Court, the Aadhaar is not mandatory for examination purposes like in NEET, JEE, UGC, CBSE etc. The companies, schools, banks and other organizations cannot insist the citizens to disclose their Aadhaar identity and no linkage is mandatory for the citizens to their services. The Department of Telecom (DoT)’s circular to mandate linking of Aadhaar with mobile number is illegal and unconstitutional.  

What to do if the bio-metric identity has been provided to companies, banks, and telecom operators?

The Supreme Court’s verdict asks not to disclose the bio-metric identity to companies, banks, and telecom operators but in case the citizens have already transferred their bio-metric identity then what can be done now. Since the seeding of Aadhaar with the Sim card is declared unconstitutional because such seeding is not in the interest of national security. In case of accessing social services, subsidies and other benefits, the seeding of Aadhaar is in national interest so that such benefits cannot be transferred to the other persons than the beneficiaries.

However, the already seeded Aadhaar data with the companies, banks, or telecom service providers is still dangerous as the data can be utilized for purposes harmful for the persons. The Supreme Court strike down the Section 57 partially and restrict private entities to use Aadhaar for authentication of a person’s identity. The entities cannot force citizens to provide or show Aadhaar as a proof of their identity. The entities already received Aadhaar related information should not share such information of the people with others, however, instructions are not issued in this regard.  

*Copyright © 2018 Dr. Lalit Kumar. All rights reserved.