A unique identification number (Aadhaar), may shortly be sufficient for a person to obtain a new mobile connection or open a bank account.
The Unique Identification Authority of India, the central agency handling the UID project, which plans to offer every resident of India a distinct identity, has started the system to make this possible, said chairman Nandan Nilekani.
To make people understand the importance of getting a UID, the authority is talking to the department of telecommunications and Telecom Regulatory Authority of India to make Aadhaar enough for taking a new mobile connection.
Nilekani said, “We are negotiating with DoT and Trai on making the Aadhaar number sufficient for getting a mobile phone connection. Presently, a person who wants a new SIM card goes to a retail outlet and he has to do some paper works, other than submitting all necessary proofs. If he has an Aadhaar number, that entire process can be done electronically”.
He said the authority was also in talks with the Reserve Bank of India, the finance ministry and Indian Bankers’ Association to make Aadhaar adequate proof for their know-your-customer process to open no-frills bank accounts.