'Trying to resolve issue over linking Aadhaar with SIM cards'

The government is working with all stakeholders in resolving the issue regarding use of 'Aadhaar' card as a proof of address for procuring new SIM cards in its proposed online verification system.
The Home Ministry had raised multiple concerns over using UIDAI number as an address proof in the Department of Telecom's (DoT) proposed online verification system, saying the supporting data in Aadhaar may not be authentic or genuine.
"We are working on that issue and I am sure we will be able to resolve it. The Prime Minister has directed us to link the SIM of the mobiles with the unique ID and the idea is that mobile should become a very strong factor of authentication and also a factor for getting information and doing transactions," DeitY Secretary RS Sharma said here.

He said the Department of Telecom is having discussions with all stakeholders and that two meetings have already taken place in this regard.
"DoT secretary is having deliberations and we have already participated in two such meetings to really take this forward," Sharma added.
The Home Ministry had raised concerns over supporting documents submitted by people as proof of identity and proof of address for getting a Aadhaar number, sources had said.

The DoT is working on a concept to use Aadhaar number for online verification of people seeking mobile connections along with existing process of customer verification.
Aadhaar card can be also issued to foreign nationals staying in the country. This had also been questioned by the Home Ministry fearing nationals of neighbouring country could attempt to use it to procure Indian identity documents for infiltration.

The Home Ministry had said that unlike Aadhaar, other acceptable proof of address documents such as passport, driving licence do not have the status of universality and therefore "even higher levels of error in these documents may not translate into comparable volume of security concerns".
The Home Ministry had also raised concern over involvement of foreign vendors by UIDAI for storing data and has suggested audit of data security.