The Bhutanese Leading the way.
In a positive move, Bhutanese citizens traveling to India can finally get SIM cards on reaching there.
The Ministry Foreign Affairs and External Trade (MoFAET) confirmed that the Government of India (GoI) has started providing SIM cards to Bhutanese by the end of 2024.
The ministry said that Bhutanese can buy the prepaid SIM cards from telephone service provider counters available at the airport or the nearest service center. The cards are valid for 90 days at a time.
“Those who wish to avail Indian SIM cards are advised to visit the counters in-person and produce a valid Passport or Identity Card,” the ministry pointed out.
The issue of Bhutanese citizens unable to buy SIM cards in India was first raised by The Bhutanese in June 2024 in the monthly meet-the-press with the Cabinet.
The issue developed when the older system of allowing SIM cards against passports was done away with and visas were required.
However, Bhutanese and Nepalese travellers to India do not require visas.
At the time, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and External Trade, D.N Dhungyel, had said that in February 2024 GoI issued a circular regarding the amendment in their Know Your Customer (KYC) instructions for the issuance of SIM cards to Bhutanese citizens. According to this amendment, the Department of Telecommunications of India had changed its policy to permit citizens of Bhutan to use SIM card services in India if a passport, CID card or limited photo-identity certificate is produced.
In order to familiarize Indian telephone operators and allow Bhutanese nationals to utilize SIM card services in India, the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in New Delhi submitted the original specimen of the Bhutanese Identity Card and limited photo-identity certificate issued by the Bhutanese Mission in India on 22 May 2024.
However, in September 2024 this paper did a ground verification and found that despite the above policy changes it had not been implemented on the ground, and so Bhutanese were being denied SIM cards.
It was found that when Bhutanese approach SIM providers in the Indira Gandhi International Airport with their passports, they refused saying there is no visa stamp and ask them to get the SIM card it in the city.
In a city like Delhi, the matter was no different as mobile shops say Bhutanese and Nepalese passports cannot get SIMs, as the system does not allow it and a visa stamp is required.
The inability to get SIM cards in India is an issue for Bhutanese there, as it is not just for communication but affects everything like getting Uber transport, medical appointments, ordering online food, online shopping, retail shopping in some outlets and even buying movie tickets.
When the paper asked the Foreign Minister, he said that he has asked the Royal Bhutanese Embassy to follow up on the matter with the Ministry of External Affairs.
This paper again followed up two months later, and still found that SIM cards were not getting issued and wrote the third story on the issue.
This time around the Minister, shared that the ministry has received confirmation that Indian SIM cards will be made available following an upcoming system upgrade for all telecom service providers in India, finally resolving this long-standing issue.
It looks like after much follow up on the issue, GoI finally could implemented the changes on the ground and now ensure that Bhutanese citizens can get a SIM card against their passport or a CID copy.
