DoT asks telcos to tweak their systems to use virtual IDs in lieu of Aadhaar numbers

New Delhi: The government has instructed telecom operators to tweak their systems and networks to enable use of virtual IDs in lieu of Aadhaar number and migrate to the ‘limited KYC ’ mechanism for mobile subscribers. “.all licencees shall implement the.changes proposed by the UIDAI regarding use of Virtual ID as an alternative of Aadhaar number, UID tokens and limited KYC concept in their system/networks subject to the adherence of existing Aadhaar-based eKYC processes for issuing new mobile connection to subscribers and re-verification of existing mobile subscribers,” a notification by the Department of Telecom has said. It further said that licencees should “give the option to subscribers of feeding either Aadhaar number or virtual ID” as per the individual’s choice but the operators will be required to display the numbers in “masked form” at the point of sale terminal and ensure that none of these numbers are stored in their own system or database. The Aadhaar issuing body UIDAI had earlier informed the telecom department that all operators will have access to “limited KYC” and that these service providers will not store Aadhaar number or virtual ID of the customer while sending authentication or eKYC requests.