On 19 August 2026, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) released new rules to prevent people from using more mobile connections or sim cards. According to the new rules, Jio, Airtel and other telcos will use photo-based verification via the government's Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) so as to identify individuals who have already reached the maximum number of mobile connections permitted in their name.
The news agency ANI shared a DoT circular on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). According to the circular, an individual can have at most nine mobile connections across all telecom operators and service areas in India. However, in Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and North-Eastern states, the limit is actually much lower. In these states, an individual can have a maximum of six mobile connections.
The nine-connection limit is not a new rule by the regulator. The DoT had already introduced this limit through its earlier instructions. The latest circular released by the regulator mainly explains how telecom operators will identify people who have reached the limit and stop them from getting more SIM cards.
Under the new guidelines, the DIP of the government will use subscriber details shared by telcos to identify mobile connections registered in the same person’s name across different operators and service areas. This will make it easier for telcos to identify subscribers who already have the maximum number of allowed connections.
Starting from 23 August, the telecom operators will be able to access representative photographs of subscribers who have already reached the permitted limit via DIP. Operators will have to download these photographs every day. From August 24 onwards, telcos will have to use these photographs and other technical measures to identify people trying to get another mobile connection after reaching the limit.
If a customer has already reached the limit, they will be informed that they cannot get another SIM card. The operators may initially conduct this verification after activation of a new connection. However, the regulator has asked telcos to add the system to their SIM registration and activation process so that the check can be done on a real time basis.
By 30 November 2026, this system must be fully integrated. According to DoT, until the new system’s full implementation, any mobile connection activated beyond the authorised limit must be suspended on an immediate basis.
News: MSN
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