Fraudulent SIM cards being circulated through small retailers across the country are a potential risk to the nation’s security. The Home Ministry is said to have written to the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) suggesting it makes biometric scans, like fingerprint recording, compulsory when issuing a new SIM card to help clamp down on their misuse, ET reports.
It has been observed that the previous procedure for a person to be physically present when issuing a SIM card has proven to be inadequate as many small-time retailers tend to give this step a slip. Introducing biometric scans, similar to what is done when applying for Aadhar cards, could help solve the problem.
The Home department has also suggested that DoT could maintain a country-wide biometric database, which could be accessed at a moment’s notice and could also be linked to the National Intelligence Grid (NATGRID).
An unnamed official told ET, “The issue was discussed even during the chief ministers’ conference on internal security here last month when it was pointed out that 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 the mandatory norms of physical verification.”
The report further states that the ministry has suggested hiking the penalties for not following procedures when offering new SIM cards. Currently, a pre-activated SIM card attracts a penalty of Rs 50,000 along with the immediate disconnection of the service.
