Introduced by the Government of India, the initiative of issuing Aadhar card was undertaken to assign a dynamic or a unique identification number to every citizen of India. UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) was authorized by the Government of India for the end-to-end management of issuing Aadhaar card for every citizen of India and Non Resident Indians (NRIs). The government also has provisions for linking Aadhaar number to services like mobile numbers, LPG, banking, etc. Hence, Idea being the largest telecommunications company in India offers services related to linking Aadhaar with Idea number. However, this linking process is not compulsory.
Linking Aadhaar to one Idea number does not mean that all Idea numbers belonging to an individual gets automatically linked to his/her Aadhaar. Every Idea mobile number of an individual has to be separately linked to his/her Aadhaar. Prepaid and postpaid Idea numbers, both, can be linked to Aadhaar.
The initiative for issuing Aadhaar card was undertaken as a restrictive measure for the rapidly increasing incidents of securing SIM cards against fake identity cards and other fraudulent practises. You have to first register your Idea number with UIDAI to be able to link Aadhaar with Idea number. In the event that the Idea mobile number that you have registered with Aadhaar is different from the one that you want to link now, you have to update your new Idea number with Aadhaar first and then link the number. You can choose from three methods to link Aadhaar with Idea number, according to your preference. Each of these methods are quick and easy, ensuring that the linking process is hassle-free:
OTP (One Time Payment)
Offline
IVR (Interactive Voice Response)
Here is a detailed discussion of the processes that you need to follow for each of these three to link Aadhaar with Idea number.
Here is the process for you to link Aadhaar with Idea number via OTP:
Step 1: Call on the Toll Free number - 14546 from the Idea mobile number that you wish to link to Aadhaar
Step 2: Select one from these options, whichever is applicable to you – Indian citizen of India and NRI (Non Resident Indian)
Step 3: Press 1 on your mobile phone to enable the operator to verify your Idea number that has been linked with Aadhaar
Step 4: Enter your Aadhaar number and Press 1 again to confirm it
Step 5: An OTP, generated by Idea, will be sent to your number from which you have contacted the Toll Free number
Step 6: Authorize the customer service executive to access your name, photo and Date of Birth from UIDAI’s database
Step 7: The last 4 digits of your Idea number will be mentioned by the IVR
Step 8: If these four digits matches that of your Idea mobile number, you can enter the OTP received by you on your mobile number to confirm its accuracy
Step 9: Press 0, if you do not have multiple Idea mobile numbers that you need to link to your Aadhaar. Or else, press 1 to enable Idea to continue with the Aadhaar verification request
Step 10: A message will be sent to your Idea mobile after 26 hours to confirm that the process of linking Aadhaar with Idea number has been completed successfully
The steps you need to follow to link Aadhaar with Idea number offline are:
Step 1: Go to any Idea store along with the self-attested copy of your Aadhaar card
Step 2: Mention your Idea mobile number that you want to link to Aadhaar to the customer service executive
Step 3: An OTP will be generated by Idea and sent it to the number that you have given to the customer care professional
Step 4: Submit your thumb impression, that is, biometric data
Step 5: Idea will then send you a confirmation message
Step 6: Reply with a ‘Y’ on the same number from where you have received the confirmation message to complete the e-KYC procedure
Step 7: Linking Aadhaar with Idea number will be completed within a day
Let’s discuss the process for linking Aadhaar with Idea number through OTP:
Step 1: Call the Toll Free number – 14546 from the Idea number that has to be linked to your Aadhaar
Step 2: Follow the IVR’S instructions and select the ‘Link Aadhaar with Idea number’ option
Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar number twice, as mentioned by the IVR, as a part of the confirmation process
Step 4: A confirmation message will be sent to the Idea number from which you had called on the Toll Free number
Step 5: The procedure for linking Aadhaar with Idea number will be completed successfully, once your request is verified by Aadhaar
Here are the 5 options for quick and streamlined reverification for linking Aadhaar with Idea number:
Online - You can visit Idea’s official website for linking Aadhaar with your Idea mobile number.
Offline - For linking Aadhaar with your Idea mobile number, visit any Idea Store to enable the customer service executives to help you with the procedure for linking Aadhaar with Idea number.
OTP – Contact the Toll Free number to link Aadhaar with Idea number through OTP.
IVR– If you prefer the IVR method, you have to call the Toll Free number to allow the IVR to guide you with the process step by step.
Doorstep services – The Government of India has made the doorstep facility for linking Aadhaar with Idea number mandatory for senior citizens and specially-abled individuals. This includes linking Aadhaar with Idea number.
Linking Aadhaar with Idea number is quick, smooth and seamless, but is yet not chargeable. Apart from the flexibility of services that contributes to the convenience of customers, it is an effective way to control the misuse of Idea SIM cards.
Also Read: How Can I Change My Name in the Aadhar Card After Marriage?
How can I link my Idea number with Aadhaar?
Linking Aadhaar with Idea number can be done through any of these methods:
Offline by visiting an Idea store branch
Online via Idea website or mobile app
OTP authentication
IVR by calling the Toll Number from Idea mobile number
Home facilities for senior citizens
How can I update my Aadhaar number in Idea?
You can update your Aadhaar number in Idea through any of these options:
Offline by visiting an Idea store branch
Online via Idea website or mobile app
OTP authentication
IVR by calling the Toll Number from Idea mobile number
Home facilities for senior citizens
Is it mandatory to carry my mobile phone to the Idea store for linking Aadhaar with Idea number?
Yes, it is necessary to carry your mobile phone when you visit an Idea store for linking Aadhaar with Idea number. This is because an OTP will be generated by Idea and then sent to your Idea mobile number that you wish to link to your Idea number. This is an important part of the verification process without which linking of Aadhaar with Idea number cannot be complete.
I only use my Idea SIM for data connection? Is it mandatory for me to link Aadhaar with Idea SIM?
As per November 2018, linking Aadhaar with Idea number is not mandatory.
I have multiple Idea numbers. Do I have to link each of these numbers separately?
Yes. Multiple Idea numbers cannot be linked to Aadhaar all at once. Therefore, the linking process for multiple Idea mobile numbers has to be done separately.
How do I confirm that my Aadhaar number has been registered with Idea?
Call 14546 (Toll Free number) to confirm whether your Idea number is already linked with Aadhaar.
For getting confirmation through the IVR also, you need to call the Toll Free number from the Idea mobile number that you want to link with Aadhaar. If your Idea number has already been linked to Aadhaar, the IVR will mention the last 4 digits of the number. If your Idea number has not been linked yet, the IVR will offer a step-by-step assistance for linking Aadhaar with Idea number.
Visit any Idea store, along with a self-attested copy of your Aadhaar card, for the customer care professional to confirm whether your Aadhaar has been linked to Idea mobile number.
