An Aadhaar ID holder will have to provide a “local reference” address, name, and contact number in case he/she is purchasing a SIM card outside his/her home circle, the DoT said in a new directive to all telecom companies. For e.g. an Aadhaar holder from Bangalore (circle) might settle in Mumbai (circle) and while purchasing a new SIM, he/she will have to provide contact no, name and address of a person from Mumbai (circle). This is required because Aadhaar is only a proof of identity (age, name, gender) and not a proof of address/residence. The DoT directive adds that a ‘local reference’ is required only for issuance of new SIM cards to “outstation customers i.e. customers who are having Aadhaar issued in other Licensed Service Area (LSAs)”. The outstation customer will first need to provide the local address where he/she wishes to obtain the SIM card, and this is recorded in the digital customer acquisition form (CAF) filed by the sales agent. The CAF will also record address, name and contact of the “local reference” person, prior to eKYC process and issuance of new SIM card, the DoT direction said. Note that the CAF form is paperless and will be filed in digital format into the biometric Point of Sale (PoS) terminal during the e-KYC process. Prior to issuing SIM card to the customer, the agent must verify customer’s residence by placing a phone call to the “local reference”. “Only after receiving affirmation from local reference, the eKYC process shall be followed”…
