No New Aadhaar Linking Deadline Yet, But Service Providers Remain Adamant

Supreme Court Bench has issued an interim order for extending Aadhaar linkage, but telcos and banks continue to ask for it without stating a deadline.

- Suyash Desai

The Supreme Court has issued an interim order indefinitely extending the deadline for linking Aadhaar to bank accounts, mobile phones and other services but banks and telecom operators are still insisting on an Aadhaar-based KYC process for customers who wish to open new accounts or get new SIM cards.

“We will now send messages asking customers to link their Aadhaar to their SIMs without mentioning a deadline. We will not make an intensive effort now. But KYC through e-Aadhaar is a necessity for obtaining a new SIM card,” said a telecom major’s official on the condition of anonymity.