Until now, you could use any government ID, like your voter ID or passport, to get a new connection. But with this update, retailers can only activate your SIM card after verifying your Aadhaar details biometrically. In short, no Aadhaar, no SIM.
This comes after a telecom sector review found fake SIM cards playing a big role in financial scams. Investigators even found cases where a single device was tied to multiple fake SIMs, breaking the rules and fueling cybercrime.
Retailers caught issuing SIM cards with fake IDs could be in serious trouble. The government has also told the telecom department to work with law enforcement and use AI tools to track down fraudsters.
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