The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed that the Department of Telecom (DoT) allow e-KYC (know your customer) of Aadhaar as one of the valid documents to get a new mobile connection, reports TOI. This recommendation was made earlier this month after consulting with the Solicitor General and the Attorney General, the report adds. This facility has not been finalised yet and the government has also sought comments (pdf) from the public (pdf). On the MyGov platform, it has received 345 submissions, out of which it approved 267 as of now. From the submissions, readers would note that people have suggested both for and against Aadhaar as a means of identity, and some comments from as long as 1.5 years ago. As of now, Idea, Vodafone, Tata Docomo and Airtel do not accept Aadhaar as either an ID or address proof to get a new connection. Speed up the process of getting a new connection The TOI report adds that the government will enable instant ID verification using Aadhaar card biometrics data to get a new SIM card and connection, as a measure to speed up the process of getting one and eliminating the use of paper. This would also help in eliminating multiple SIMs owned under one person’s documents as may be the case now. A DNA report from March 2015 states that the prime minister’s office had approved a partial roll out of using Aadhaar as an ID proof via eKYC in the circles of Bhopal, Kolkata,…
