All telecom service suppliers need to implement the biometric Id verification system for Sim card issuance by means of their authorised channels
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SPENCER PLATT
The federal government has made obligatory biometric verification for brand spanking new cell Sim card buy, updating person particulars, disconnection and even re-verification below the Telecommunication Act, 2023.
These guidelines could also be known as the Telecommunications (Person Identification) Guidelines, 2026, the Division of Telecommunications (DoT) mentioned by means of a gazette notification dated August 21, 2026.
“These guidelines shall apply to verifiable biometric-based identification of customers of notified companies by any authorised entity,” the notification mentioned.
The event comes after the DoT notification dated September, 2025, whereby it invited objections and options from all individuals prone to be affected.
The obligatory Aadhaar-linked biometric verification was proposed for digital/ electronic-know your buyer (D-KYC or e-KYC) in a serious transfer to deal with rising digital arrest scams and on-line fraud throughout the nation.
Subsequently, all telecom service suppliers (TSPs) need to implement the biometric Id verification system (BIVS) for Sim card issuance by means of their authorised channels.
The notification talked about that each authorised entity ought to clarify to every of its customers, in a transparent and specific method to offer right info for establishing his/ her identification on the time of biometric-based identification below these guidelines; and guarantee compliance with the Act and never present false, incorrect, or cast info or paperwork, or suppress any materials info, or impersonate, whereas establishing his/ her identification.
Additionally, not resell or switch or lease his/ her telecommunication service connection or subscriber identification module to every other person. In case of any violation of those guidelines, or furnishing of any false particulars, the person could be penalised below the Telecom Act.
“Each authorised entity that undertakes biometric-based identification of a person below these guidelines, shall ship to him an alert specifying, amongst different related particulars, the telecommunication service connection involved or the subscriber identification module therefor, by means of every of his current telecommunication service connections or subscriber identification modules therefor, in search of affirmation from him that he’s the person who had made the request in respect of such connection or module,” it famous.
And, if the response of the person to the alert is within the unfavourable, the authorised entity ought to forthwith and until it has ascertained related details and brought applicable motion for closure, it mentioned including that the telecom service connection must be suspended until the biometric particulars are matched and verified.
“Each authorised entity shall, inside a interval of three months from the date of coming into drive of those guidelines, take applicable technical and organisational measures, and set up obligatory infrastructure for efficient observance of those guidelines,” the notification mentioned.
It additionally added that the federal government can prolong the mentioned interval for an additional interval not exceeding three months, in case it finds the preparedness of the authorised entities for implementation of such measures weren’t prepared but, within the curiosity of the general public.
Revealed on August 22, 2026
