now you can get a new one mobile Connection using an app, or SIM card delivered at your doorstep, change from prepaid to postpaid connection or complete the process of Know Your Customer (key) without visiting any mobile store. DoT has rolled out a set of reforms that will enable contactless, customer centric and secure authentication for India’s mobile customers.

“In a major step towards achieving this objective, the Department of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications, Government of India… has issued a series of orders to simplify the KYC procedures and thereby introduce telecom reforms announced by the Cabinet on 15.09.2021. issued.” The government said in a statement on Tuesday.

These reforms include -Aadhaar based e-KYC; Self-KYC and OTP (One-Time Password) – Conversion of mobile connection from prepaid to postpaid and vice versa. The cabinet last week included the telecom relief package and reforms to improve digital connectivity.

The government said it aims to promote “contactless service” and “ease of doing business” so that customers do not have to go to the store with documents to get a mobile connection or make any changes to their service.

Among the first improvements is Aadhaar based KYC in which the demographic details along with the photograph of the subscriber is obtained online by the Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), who administers Aadhaar.

Ironically, digital verification through Aadhaar was the norm until the Supreme Court in 2018, which prohibited the use of Aadhaar by private entities for digital authentication. NS Department of Telecommunications Biometric verification was then banned which has now been “reintroduced”. As per the latest norms, operators will be charged Re 1 per customer for authentication by UIDAI.

The second change is that the customer can apply for a mobile connection online through the app/portal and the SIM card will be delivered to his/her home/office. The required documents will either be verified electronically through UIDAI or a digital locker.

“If Aadhaar is being used and demographic details are being obtained electronically from UIDAI, the customer’s consent has been made mandatory,” the statement said.

The last change that has been brought is aimed at customers who want to switch from prepaid to postpaid and vice versa through OTP based authentication.

These measures come as part of the process reforms that the government announced on September 15 to ease consumer convenience.