A symbolic picture with the story made available by the Author.
DoT to explore option of compulsory fingerprints on issue of SIM card
New Delhi, July 3, 2013: On failure of the physical verification system after issue of SIM card, to keep a proper check over the criminals, the department of telecommunication (DoT), the Home Ministry has asked to explore an option of making it compulsory for cellphone service providers to take fingerprints or any other biometric feature of the subscriber, akin to Aadhaar, before activating mobile numbers.
Though the system of issuing cards was tightened after the 26\11 attacks when investigators found the LeT terrorists had used Indian SIM cards procured by local contacts on the basis of forged documents, it did not prevent its misuse.
In fact, the use of fingerprints in crime fiction has now become a reality with its use in real-life diction. Since fingerprints offer an infallible means of personal identification, as of March 2013, the Unique Identification Authority of India operates the world's largest fingerprint (multi-modal biometric) system, with over 200 million fingerprint, face and iris biometric records.
The ministry suggested that the department may also maintain a central database comprising biometric features of all subscribers and opt for linking it with the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID) for keeping those data at one place from national security point of view.
According to an official of the ministry, the issue was discussed even during the CMs’ conference on internal security last month when it was pointed out how SIM cards were being procured by terrorists\criminals on the basis of forged documents in absence of retailers’ and distributors’ failure to adhere to mandatory norms of physical verification.
The matter is likely to be discussed with all stakeholders including telecom service providers for devising an alternative system as it was noted that the existing ones (physical verification) was not happening in all cases due to sheer competition among retailers to sell as many SIM cards as possible.