Starting from now, acquiring a new SIM card in India involves more than just filling out a form. The government has made Aadhaar-based biometric verification mandatory to address the growing concern of mobile connections being misused for fraudulent activities.
The move, backed by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), directs the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to ensure that all new SIM cards are linked to verified identities.This directive follows a review of the telecom sector, which uncovered a significant role of fake SIM cards in cybercrime, particularly in financial scams.
Investigations revealed that criminals often use multiple fake SIM cards linked to a single device, enabling them to carry out illegal activities with ease.
The new policy aims to curb such misuse by enforcing strict identification measures before issuing SIM cards.Also read: Bluesky launches Flashes: A decentralised photo and video sharing app to compete with social media giantsRetailers found distributing SIM cards with fake or forged documents face severe consequences, including legal action.
The government has also instructed telecom operators to cooperate with law enforcement agencies and implement AI-driven tools to identify and apprehend fraudsters.