Virtual ID replaces Aadhaar

Virtual ID can be used in place of Aadhaar to get new SIM card. The telecom department has instructed telecom service providers to allow consumers to share their Virtual ID in lieu of Aadhaar to get news SIMs or verify existing ones. According to a notice by the Department of Telecom (DoT), the consumers will have an option to give their Aadhaar number or the more secure Virtual IDs. The DoT has instructed telecom operators to tweak their systems and networks to enable the use of Virtual IDs in lieu of Aadhaar number and migrate to the ‘limited KYC’ mechanism for mobile subscribers. The latest move is in line with the ensuing implementation of the new Virtual ID system from July 1, which users can quote instead of their Aadhaar number. The Virtual ID system — a random 16-digit number mapped to a person’s Aadhaar number — is scheduled to be fully operational from next month. It aims to strengthen the privacy and security of Aadhaar data amid heightened concerns around the collection and storage of personal and demographic information of individuals.