Link your mobile number to Aadhaar through OTP, IVRS from December 1

Mobile phone users will no longer need to visit outlets of telecom operators for re-verification of SIM cards issued on the basis of Aadhaar.

The telecom operators presented model that suggested alternatives such as onetime password or OTP for Aadhaar-based SIM re-verification.This model has been approved by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and the move will be effective from December 1.

In a bid to ease the process of re-verification, the Department of Telecom had last month allowed telcos to re-verify mobile phone numbers through three systems — OTP through SMS, interactive voice response system (IVRS) and through the telcos’ mobile apps.

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"Yes, we have approved it. We had a very detailed discussion with the telecom operators, and they have come out with a scheme which is secure and will also be convenient to people", UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey told the Economic Times.

"And this will help people verify their mobile number with Aadhaar without going to a telecom outlet, provided their mobile number is already added to Aadhaar database", he said.