India Enforces Strict Limits on Mobile SIM Card Ownership

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has implemented new regulations to strictly enforce limits on the number of mobile connections an individual can hold across all operators. Effective August 24, 2026, the national limit is set at nine SIM cards, while a stricter limit of six applies to subscribers in Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, and the North-East.

To prevent fraud and unauthorized usage, the DoT is utilizing the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP). Starting August 23, the DIP began providing telecom operators with representative photographs and data records of subscribers who have already reached their limits. Additionally, customers are now required to provide a formal declaration of all existing connections within their Customer Application Form.

Telecom service providers must currently use a post-facto verification system, meaning any connection activated beyond the prescribed limit will be immediately suspended until the issue is resolved. The government has mandated that all operators transition to full real-time integration and identity verification via the DIP by November 30, 2026. The government is also expected to notify the Telecommunications (User Identification) Rules, 2025, which propose a biometric-based system and unique user IDs for enhanced auditing.