A few months back, the Indian government had made it mandatory to link your mobile number with Aadhaar card. This step is being taken to remove the fake numbers. Most of the criminals use fake numbers issued on fake ID proofs to avoid being caught. After linking it to Aadhaar, it will be tough to issue a fake number as the presence of person will be required to authenticate his fingerprint.
Also see: How to download eAadhaar
Initially, users needed to visit the customer care center of number service providers, but it was not feasible for many. So, UIDAI has started an OTP based authentication to link mobile number with Aadhaar.
It is also worth to note that you cannot call this number and link Aadhaar if you are on roaming network. If your Aadhaar belong to a different state and your number to a different state, you need to visit the customer care center. In both cases, this method will not work.
How to Link Aadhaar to Your SIM via OTP
The process is very simple and takes just 2 minutes. It is available in English, Hindi, and several regional languages to make it easier for most of the people.
In this article, I will explain how to link your number with Aadhaar.
- Call the IVR number 14546. This is a toll-free number.
- Accept your consent to link your Aadhaar number with your mobile number.
- Enter your 12 digit Aadhaar number.
- Approve it to fetch your name, DOB, and Address linked to your mobile number.
- Now enter the OTP you received through SMS.
- You will get an SMS confirming the Re-verification.
For now, Idea, Vodafone, and Airtel have started using OTP based authentication for SIM Aadhaar linking. Other network operators will also join soon.
The last date of linking SIM to Aadhaar is March 31, 2018. So, you need to link it before the deadline to avoid the deactivation of your phone number.
