UIDAI asks telcos to submit plan to discontinue Aadhaar-based eKYC
Days after the Supreme Court imposed curbs on the use of Aadhaar, biometric-issuing authority UIDAI today asked telecom companies to submit, within the next 15 days, a plan to stop using the 12-digit Unique ID number for customer authentication. A circular to this effect has already been issued to the telecom service providers (TSPs), including Bharti Airtel, Reliance Jio, Vodafone Idea, and others.
Here is what the UIDAI's order says
The communication says: "All TSPs are called upon to immediately take actions in order to comply with the judgment dated 26.09.2018... TSPs are hereby directed to submit by 15th October 2018 an action plan/exit plan... for closure of use of Aadhaar-based authentication systems."
SC's decision means telcos have to use legacy paper-based technique
The Supreme Court, last week, struck down Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, which allowed private companies to use the 12-digit biometric ID-based eKYC. This would mean that the telecom industry will have to revert to alternates like legacy paper-based technique (collect physical paper forms with signature, photographs, ship to verification center). The turnaround time in this route is between 24-36 hours.
UIDAI says certain requirements to be fulfilled for smooth discontinuation
UIDAI CEO Ajay Bhushan Pandey said: "In order to ensure smooth discontinuation...there are certain requirements which are there under the Aadhaar regulations... so the companies are in the best position to know what exactly is needed." "If any additional requirements are to be done from the UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) side, we will tell them after receipt of their plan," he said.
