Online fraud and cybercrime have surged recently. Fraudsters often use fake SIM cards to drain bank accounts or commit other crimes. To curb this, the Department of Telecommunications is tightening the rules for SIM card issuance. Under the new regulations, a single individual can hold a maximum of nine SIM cards; no one will be permitted to obtain more than this. This limit is even stricter for Jammu & Kashmir, Assam, and the Northeastern states, where an individual is restricted to holding only six SIM cards.

The government believes that possessing an excessive number of SIM cards facilitates fraudulent activities, making it necessary to impose a cap. A new system is being implemented this week. For individuals who already have nine active SIM cards, their photographs will be uploaded to the 'Digital Intelligence Platform.' This platform is a digital system designed to monitor the number of mobile connections registered to each individual.

Information on this platform will be accessible to telecom companies, relevant departments, and officials. Telecom operators—such as Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone-Idea—will be able to use the photos and details on the platform to easily identify individuals who have already exceeded the limit. Such individuals will be denied any new SIM cards; essentially, if you already hold nine SIM cards, you will not be able to acquire a new number.

This system will also help curb the creation and sale of fake SIM cards. It has been made mandatory to integrate the entire process into a real-time system by November 30, 2026.

'Real-time' means that whenever a new SIM card is activated, the system will instantly check the Digital Intelligence Platform to see how many connections are already registered to that individual. If the limit has been reached, the activation will be immediately blocked.
This measure will significantly reduce the likelihood of fraudulent SIM cards being issued. The government has taken this step primarily to combat cybercrime, as fake SIM cards are often used to steal OTPs and facilitate bank fraud, online scams, and other criminal activities. Limiting the number of SIM cards a single individual can hold will help curb such crimes. The general public will also benefit, as the number of unnecessary SIM cards will decrease and the system will become more secure. Customers are advised to retain only the SIM cards they actually need.
If anyone possesses more SIM cards than necessary, they should surrender the excess ones; doing so will prevent any issues when obtaining a new SIM in the future. Telecom companies will also exercise greater vigilance and strictly adhere to the regulations. This new rule represents a significant step towards combating cyber fraud. By regulating the number of SIM cards, the government aims to make the digital landscape more secure. Citizens should also stay informed about these rules to avoid any inconvenience.

It is worth noting that the limits of 9 or 6 SIM cards are not new; these caps have already been in place. The new Department of Telecommunications (DoT) circular focuses on enforcing these limits and strengthening the DIP-based system—making it real-time—to identify customers who exceed the permitted number.

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