DoT SIM Card Rules are set to become stricter from August 24, 2026, as the Department of Telecommunications strengthens the verification process for issuing new mobile connections.
Under the revised enforcement, telecom companies will not issue a new SIM if a customer has already reached the permitted limit of mobile connections.
The government has clarified that the SIM limit itself has not changed. Instead, stricter verification will ensure that the existing rules are followed more effectively across all telecom operators.
DoT SIM Card Rules
From August 24, telecom operators will be required to check whether an applicant has already reached the maximum number of mobile connections allowed in their name before issuing a new SIM card.
If the customer has already reached the prescribed limit, the request for a new mobile connection will be rejected. Customers will also be informed about the number of mobile connections already registered in their name.
How Many SIM Cards Can You Have?
In most parts of India, an individual can hold up to nine mobile connections across all telecom operators.
However, the limit is lower in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North Eastern states, where a person can have a maximum of six mobile connections.
The limit applies to the total number of SIM cards linked to a person’s identity, regardless of whether they belong to Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL or any other telecom company.
Digital Intelligence Platform to Verify Connections
To enforce the rules, telecom companies will use the government’s Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), which provides subscriber information across different telecom operators.
According to the new system, representative photographs of existing subscribers will be available on the platform from August 23.
This will help telecom companies verify the identity of customers applying for a new SIM card and detect cases where the connection limit has already been reached.
What Customers Must Provide
While applying for a new SIM card, customers will have to disclose details of all existing mobile numbers registered in their name.
This includes connections from different telecom companies as well as numbers issued in different telecom circles.
The additional verification is aimed at preventing misuse of SIM cards and improving compliance with existing telecom regulations.
