Airtel — prepaid mobile plan purchase by an nri

We as non - resident indians (Nri) on a short visit home found the purchase of prepaid mobile plan very difficult in the absence of an aadhar card. I believe that it is only the ‘residents’ who are entitled to obtain an aadhar number (Section 3 (1) of the aadhar act), and we do not fall under the definition as provided in section 2 (V) of that act. As such, insisting on aadhar as an identity from nris, when they are not eligible to enrol for aadhar, is incorrect. Passports with visa should be an alternative means of establishing an identity and an nri status, and this has been reiterated by the authorities through various circulars.

We had visited a bharati airtel office in bangalore (The one near christ university, probably bannerghatta main road and the store manager, sandesh kumar p insisted on aadhar card even from nris, which is against the rules.

I wish to hear from you your views and interpretation as this ignorance on the part of the company has caused much inconvenience to us.