Extension of Aadhaar-mobile linkage deadline a relief: COAI

"We are pleased that the timeline has been extended. We were facing challenges in complying with the earlier deadline given the volume (of telecom subscribers)," COAI Director General Rajan Mathews said.

The extension will be "good news" also for consumers as it will provide them more time for compliance.

The Supreme Court on Friday extended the deadline for linking of Aadhaar with various schemes and welfare measures, up to March 31 next year. The deadline of February 6, 2018, for linking the biometric identifier with mobile connections also stands extended up to March 31, 2018.

Mathews said the Cellular Operators' Association of India (COAI) will be in constant touch with the telecom department on nuances of compliance with the March 31 deadline.

Meanwhile, UIDAI on Friday said banks have been asked to install fingerprint and iris scanners in 10 per cent of their branches to expedite Aadhaar enrollment mainly for those seeking to open new bank accounts. The Supreme Court (SC) on Friday extended till March 31, 2018, the deadline for mandatory linking of the biometric identifier with various services and welfare schemes.

The apex court has also said that new bank accounts can be opened without Aadhaar but applicants need to submit proof that he has applied for the 12-digit identification number.

"We will continuously work to simplify the Aadhaar linking process ... We have asked all the banks to provide Aadhaar fingerprint and iris scanners in stipulated bank branch, so that people do not have difficulty (in enrolling)," Ajay Bhushan Pandey, the CEO of Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), said after the SC's interim order.

UIDAI has directed all the banks to set up Aadhaar enrollment facilities in stipulated 10 per cent of branches.

This will enable "people who don't have Aadhaar to get the Aadhaar (enrollment facility) in the bank itself and link bank account by March 31, 2018 as per the deadline of the Supreme Court," Pandey said urging people to utilise the facility.

Pandey said that banks have been asked to "speed up" the setting up of such centres so people can get enrolled at the branches and added that the information on bank branches that have Aadhaar enrollment facility is available on the authority's website.

"So far, more than 3,000 enrollment centres have already been set up in bank branches all over the country and overall they have to set up (enrollment facility) in 14,000 bank branches," he said.

Pandey clarified that people who already have Aadhaar and wish to open a new bank account will have to furnish the 12 digit identifier.