The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has issued a key directive to the Telecom Department (DoT).
It mandates that Aadhaar-based biometric verification must now be done for all new SIM card connections.
This move aims to curb the rising misuse of mobile connections acquired through fake documents.
Illegal SIM cards are often bought using fraudulent documents and misused for various purposes.
Previously, users could obtain a new mobile connection using any government ID like a Voter ID or Passport.
However, activating the SIM card now requires mandatory biometric verification through Aadhaar.
Retailers are prohibited from issuing SIM cards without adhering to this rule.
Government’s crackdown on fake SIM cards
This decision was made following a recent review meeting of the telecom sector.
It was discovered that fake SIM cards play a significant role in financial scams.
Investigations revealed cases where multiple SIM cards were linked to a single device, violating telecom regulations and encouraging cybercrime.
PMO’s Directives
The PMO has instructed the DoT to work with law enforcement agencies to identify and take action against criminals involved in such practices.
Retailers found issuing SIM cards using fake documents will face strict penalties.
These measures are part of the government’s effort to prevent cybercrime and stop the distribution of fake SIM cards.
