All you need to know about linking Aadhaar to your mobile number. It is mandatory to link your Aadhaar number to your mobile number now.

The linking of Aadhaar with various services has emerged as the cornerstone of the government’s Digital India initiative. The 12-digit Aadhaar number is being increasingly tied to subsidies, banking services and e-verification processes to streamline and speed-up government services.

After making it mandatory to link Aadhaar with PAN to file Income Tax returns, the Government is now eyeing the telecommunication industry. Digital application has been the modus operandi of the ruling government to streamline the economy, boost growth and stem incidences of corruption. Hence, it’s no surprise that after our bank accounts, we now need to link our Aadhaar Card to our mobile numbers.

The purpose of the exercise is to identify the large count of fake mobile subscribers and to further strengthen the authenticity of Aadhaar as an important document for e-KYC.

This article aims to answer all your questions regarding this new reform:

Additional Reading: The Aadhaar Ecosystem And IT

The Notice

The Government has tightly woven Aadhaar with the economy by first linking it with subsidies and then gradually making it mandatory for performing almost everything from bank transactions to filing your taxes. The reach of Aadhaar has gone far beyond its initial purpose of establishing the identity of its holder.

Earlier in March this year, the government asked all telecom companies to start re-verifying the details of their customers. This is to be done by asking the customers to link their mobile numbers (both prepaid and postpaid) with their Aadhaar i.e. undertake a fresh round of Aadhaar-based KYC.

Currently, the last date to link your Aadhaar to your mobile number has been set to 6^th Feb 2018.

Additional Reading: Aadhaar PAN Linking Mandatory From 1st July 2017

Aadhaar-Based e-KYC

e-KYC is nothing but an online way to perform regular Know Your Customer formalities. It’s the process where you provide your identity, address proof and other relevant documents to avail a service. Aadhaar-based e-KYC is the use of your Aadhaar number to verify your details.

In order to link your Aadhaar with your mobile number all you need to do is provide your Aadhaar number to your telecom service provider and do the biometric verification.

It doesn’t matter which mobile operators’ SIM you use, the process to link your Aadhaar to your mobile number is the same across all of them.

Additional Reading: How To Correct Your Aadhaar Card Details

Here is a step-by-step guide:

1. Visit the nearest store of your service provider to link your Aadhaar to your mobile number. If you have a prepaid connection, you can even visit the nearest retailer.
2. Ask your service provider for the Aadhaar to mobile number linking service. Make sure you have the number you want to link in working condition with you. You will need it for OTP-based verification. Also, carry a copy of your Aadhaar Card and original for verification.
3. The executives at the store will ask you for your Aadhaar number and your mobile number.
4. The executives will initiate the linking process and you will receive a PIN on your mobile number. Give this PIN to the executives.
5. The executives will ask you to verify your fingerprint using a biometric scanner.
6. Once all the verifications are done, your service provider will send a message to your mobile number within 24 hours to confirm that the linking has been done.
7. Reply with a ‘Y’ to confirm your verification. It’s only after you send a confirmation to the SMS will your telecom provider overwrite your existing KYC details with those mentioned in your Aadhaar. Your confirmation will link your Aadhaar with your mobile number.
8. You will receive a message from your service provider informing you of successful Aadhaar and mobile-phone linking.

Additional Reading: mAadhaar – Your Identity In Your Hands

Points To Keep In Mind

To successfully link your Aadhaar with your mobile number, the number you want to link must be the one provided at the time of applying for your Aadhaar Card. This raises a question for those people who do not have a mobile number linked to their Aadhaar Card or have the wrong or discontinued number on their Aadhaar Card. How do they go about this?

Let’s look at these scenarios one at a time:

Additional Reading: How to Apply for Aadhaar Card

Scenario 1

Linking your mobile number to Aadhaar for the first time

There is no way to link your mobile and Aadhaar number online for the first time. You’ll have to take the offline route. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Visit your nearest Aadhaar centre and get a copy of the Aadhaar update/correction form. You can even download this form from the UIDAI website.
2.  Submit the filled form at the Aadhaar centre.
3. Submit a copy of your Aadhaar Card and a copy of any other identification proof such as your Driving Licence, PAN Card, etc. Make sure to carry the original of these documents with you for the purpose of verification.
4. The executives at the Aadhaar centre will undertake your biometric verification (fingerprint/thumb impressions). This must match with the biometric record collected at the time of issuing your Aadhaar Card.

Once verification has been done, you will be given an acknowledgement slip and your Aadhaar will be linked to your mobile number in a few days.

Scenario 2

Updating your mobile number in your Aadhaar record

If you are planning to change your mobile number in your Aadhaar records, then make sure to keep your old number at hand; the one you had provided at the time of applying for your Aadhaar Card. Here are the steps:

• Visit the UIDAI website.
• You will find an option called ‘Aadhaar Update’. Click the link and you will get a host of options.
• From these options click on ‘Aadhaar Self-Service’.
• Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and text verification number (captcha) and click Send OTP.
• Enter the OTP sent to your existing mobile number.
• You will be redirected to a page where you’ll be asked to update your details. Select ‘mobile number’ under ‘select field(s) to update’.
• Enter your new mobile number and click submit.
• Verify to proceed and make a note or take a print-out of the URN.

With the correct mobile number linked to your Aadhaar Card, you can undertake the Aadhaar-based re-verification at your telecom service provider without any hassle.

Points To Keep In Mind

• You have to go through the e-KYC process each time you want a new SIM number. This holds true even if you have already re-verified your subscriber details using Aadhaar with your telecom service provider.
• You can convert your prepaid number to a postpaid connection without the e-KYC formalities.

Additional Reading:How to Download Aadhaar Card Online

Mobile-Aadhaar Linking process for different service providers

Airtel – Aadhaar Linking

According to the Airtel website:

For postpaid connections visit the nearest Airtel store and for prepaid connection, you can visit your nearest retailer.

All you need is your Aadhaar card/number and your mobile. You will be required to complete a biometric verification. You will also receive the verification code (OTP) on your mobile that would be required to complete the process.

Vodafone – Aadhaar Linking

According to the Vodafone website:

Step 1: Visit your nearest authorised Vodafone retailer with your active SIM and Aadhaar number

Step 2: You will receive a verification code on your mobile. Share this code with your retailer

Step 3: Complete your biometric validation on the Vodafone e-KYC device by scanning your fingerprint

Step 4: Your verification will be completed within 24 hours. You will receive an SMS for confirmation. Reply “NO” If you don’t want to verify your number

Idea – Aadhaar Linking

According to the Idea website:

Step-1: Visit the nearest Idea centre and provide your mobile number and Aadhaar number.

Step-2: An Idea store executive will provide a four-digit verification code on your mobile number for the re-verification application.

Step-3: The subscriber must provide the verification code to Idea store executive & provide his/her biometric.

Step-4: After 24 hours you will receive a confirmation SMS, reply Y to complete the e-KYC process.

BSNL – Aadhaar Linking

According to the BSNL website:

Step 1: Approach any BSNL authorised retailer, franchisee or customer support centre. Ask them to re-verify your existing BSNL mobile number by linking it to Aadhaar.

Step 2: Immediately the retailer or the staff of BSNL will ask for your mobile number and enter it in their BSNL Swift app through their login through desktop or mobile.

Step 3: Immediately you will receive a four-digit PIN (personal identification number) on your working mobile number. Submit that PIN along with your Aadhaar number to them.

Step 4: BSNL CSC staff or support employees will ask you to do a biometric verification. Within seconds, your Aadhaar data will be fetched an appear on the screen of BSNL e-KYC App for re-verification.

Step 5: The support team will ask you to confirm the displayed address or BSNL SIM card details.

Step 6: After your final confirmation, they will ask again to do a biometric thumb impression verification on the BSNL e-KYC App. This needs to be done for a successful validation with UIDAI.

Step 7: With that, the total Aadhaar mobile verification process will complete. You will be issued a UIDAI receipt number or application ID. All the verification details will be sent through a message instantly.

Jio – Aadhaar Linking

Step 1: Visit your nearest Jio center and provide your mobile number and Aadhaar number.

Step 2: A Reliance Jio store executive will provide a four-digit verification code on your mobile number for the re-verification application.

Step 3: The subscriber must provide the verification code to Jio store executive & provide his/her biometric details.

Step 4: After 24 hrs you will receive a confirmation SMS.

We understand you might have more questions regarding Aadhaar-based re-verification of your mobile number. Hence, we have compiled a list of FAQs for you.

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FAQs

Q: What’s the last date to link my Aadhaar and mobile number?

A: 6th Feb 2018. But we recommend you do it at the earliest to avoid the rush.

Q: What documents do I need for re-verification?

A: You need your Aadhaar Card, your mobile number in working condition. Your biometric verification will happen at the service provider’s store.

Q: What if I don’t re-verify my subscriber data by linking my Aadhaar and mobile number?

A: The services provided by your telecom company might get disrupted partially or completely.

Q: What are the charges for linking Aadhaar with my mobile number?

A: It’s a free-of-cost service. You don’t have to pay anything.

Q: Will linking Aadhaar to my mobile number affect my prepaid balance?

A: No, the process will not change the balance in your account.

Q: Do I need a new SIM for linking Aadhaar with my mobile number?

A: No, you do not need a new SIM to link your Aadhaar with your mobile number. It can be done with the SIM you are currently using.

Q: Will linking Aadhaar with my mobile number change my prepaid or postpaid tariff?

A: No

Q: My name and address in Aadhaar are different from what I had given at the time of taking the SIM.

A: Your old details will be overwritten with those collected at the time of re-verification.

Q: I have multiple phone numbers with different service providers. Do I have to link all of them with my Aadhaar?

A: Yes, you have to follow the re-verification process for all your numbers whether they are the same or different telecom service providers.

Q: Do I have to link and re-verify my data even if I am using a SIM as a DataCard for my tablet etc?

A: Yes

Q: How will I get the OTP for my DataCard?

A: The OTP will be sent to your alternate registered number.

Q: I took a new number recently for which I submitted my Aadhaar number and took a biometric test. Do I need to re-verify again?

A: In this case, you do not have to undergo the process again. But if you’ve just submitted your Aadhaar without taking the biometric test then you will have to take the biometric test for re-verification.

Additional Reading: How to Link Aadhaar Card to Different Documents

That’s everything you need to know about re-verifying your mobile number subscriber data by linking Aadhaar with your mobile number. With the widespread use of Aadhaar, the Government aims to make all services paperless.

We, too, believe in the paperless dream. Hence, we have a host of Credit Card and loan options that have a paperless application process.  That means you don’t need to submit any physical documents when applying for a loan or Credit Card. You can avail these products by uploading a soft copy of your documents. Goodbye to truckloads of paperwork. Welcome, paperless banking! Want to try it out?

Note: The information in this article may be subject to change.