The Bhutanese Leading the way.
Earlier in June 2024 in response to a question by this paper, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, D.N Dhungyel, announced that in February 2024, the Government of India had issued a circular regarding the amendment in their Know Your Customer (KYC) instructions for the issuance of SIM cards to Bhutanese Citizens.
According to the amendment, the Department of Telecommunications of India has changed its policy to permit citizens of Bhutan to use SIM card services in India, by presenting one of the following documents as valid identification instead of a passport: Bhutanese Citizenship Certificates (Citizenship Identity Cards), Voter Identification Cards issued by the Election Commission of Bhutan, and Limited Validity Photo-Identity Certificates issued by the Royal Bhutanese Embassy in India.
Many Bhutanese assumed that this meant Bhutanese could now get the SIM cards in India, however, despite the policy change, it has not been implemented on the ground.
The result is that when Bhutanese approach SIM providers in the Indira Gandhi International Airport with their passports, they refuse 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 is 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 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.
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 cabs, 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.
