NIXI (National Internet Exchange of India), the registry that operates .IN and .Bharat domains, requires every registrant to complete electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) verification and confirm their registrant email address. As an official NIXI-accredited .IN registrar, Motherhost is required to collect and confirm this verification on your behalf. This guide covers who needs to comply, what’s changing, and how to complete verification from your Motherhost account.

What’s Changing

1. eKYC and Email Verification

NIXI now requires eKYC and registrant email verification for:

  • New domain registrations
  • Domain renewals
  • Domain transfers-in
  • Registrant contact modifications

Motherhost has integrated eKYC through Digio, a government-approved digital verification provider, so you can complete verification directly from your Client Area.

2. Restriction on VPN Usage During Registration

NIXI’s verification process is designed around capturing the registrant’s actual IP address. Registering or renewing while connected to a VPN or another IP-masking service can interfere with verification, so turn off your VPN before starting the process.

3. Restrictions on Registrant Email Addresses

Disposable or temporary email services cannot be used for registrant contacts on .IN, third-level .IN, or .Bharat domains. Use a permanent, professional email address for all domain operations. See the full list of restricted providers: .IN Restricted Email List.

Compliance Timeline

Registrants have 15 days to complete eKYC and email verification from the point it’s requested. Domains not verified within this window are suspended until verification is completed.

Who Must Complete eKYC

  • Indian individuals registering a .IN or .Bharat domain
  • Indian organizations and companies
  • Foreign individuals and organizations registering .IN, .Bharat, or related extensions

Accepted Verification Documents

  • Aadhaar — primary method, verified instantly via OTP
  • PAN Card, Passport, Voter ID (Election Card), or Driving License — for registrants who cannot provide Aadhaar
  • Passport or home-country citizenship card — for registrants or registrars located outside India

How to Complete eKYC Verification

  1. Log in to your Motherhost account.
  2. Click the top-right menu, “Hello, [Your Name]”.
  3. Click Account Details.
  4. Click eKYC Verification from the left sidebar menu.
  5. Follow the Digio verification link sent to your registered mobile number via Email/SMS and confirm with the 6-digit code.

If you have trouble accessing your account or completing verification, contact Motherhost support with your domain name and we’ll help you through it.

What Happens If You Don’t Verify in Time

A domain that isn’t verified within the compliance window is suspended by NIXI until verification is completed. While suspended:

  • Websites and email hosted on the domain stop resolving
  • The domain cannot be transferred to another registrar

General .IN Domain Registration Policies

Beyond eKYC, NIXI enforces a few standing policies for every .IN domain, regardless of registrar:

  • No proxy/privacy WHOIS: the registrant’s real name, city, and state must be visible on the public WHOIS record — privacy-protection services are not permitted for .IN domains.
  • Single true registrant: the WHOIS registrant contact must reflect the actual domain holder, not a placeholder or third party.
  • Renewal terms: domains can be registered or renewed for 1–10 years at a time.
  • Transfer timing: a domain cannot be transferred to another registrar within 60 days of initial registration or a previous transfer; the admin contact must approve a transfer with the Auth/EPP code, or the registry auto-approves it after the standard waiting period.