If you have multiple SIM cards in your name, be careful; rules are changing from August 24
Those with more than one SIM card after August 24, 2026, will be strictly disciplined. Connections will be verified through DIP, and if the limit is reached, a new SIM card will not be issued. The limit is nine SIM cards, while some states limit it to six.
RJ Kesari News Desk: If you have multiple mobile SIM cards in your name, this news is important for you. The government is now going to enforce the rules more strictly on those who have more mobile connections than the prescribed limit.
Starting August 24, 2026, telecom companies will be required to implement technical and administrative measures to identify such customers and prevent them from issuing new SIM cards.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued guidelines in this regard on August 17. Under these guidelines,
if a customer has already reached a predetermined limit and then attempts to obtain a new SIM, the telecom operator will be required to identify the customer.
The customer will also be informed that a new mobile connection cannot be granted due to the limit being reached.
How many SIM cards can it hold?
It's worth noting that the mobile connection limit isn't a new rule. Since August 9, 2012, a person in the country can have a maximum of nine mobile connections in their name.
This limit applies to all telecom companies and different licensed service areas. However, in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, and the northeastern states,
the limit is six mobile connections, not nine. This means that if you have SIM cards from different companies in your name, their number will also count towards the total limit.
How will the government monitor now?
To implement the new directives, the Department of Telecommunications has mandated the use of a Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) .
This platform will aggregate customer information from various telecom operators to help determine the number of mobile connections held by an individual.
When purchasing a new SIM, customers must provide details of all existing mobile connections in their name in the Customer Application Form. This will include connections from other telecom companies or in other licensed service areas.
Photos will also be available from August 23rd
According to DoT directives, starting August 23rd, representative photos of customers who have reached the prescribed limit will be available on DIP.
Telecom companies will be able to use this information when issuing new SIMs. If a customer is found to have more connections than the prescribed limit, the application for a new SIM may be rejected.