New SIM Card Rules 2026: Verification Gets Stricter; Know Connection Limits and When a Number Can Be Disconnected

Buying and maintaining a mobile SIM connection in India is becoming more tightly regulated as the government strengthens customer identification and telecom-fraud controls. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has rolled out its new Telecommunications (User Identification) Rules, 2026 on its e-services system. 

For mobile users, the key message is simple: SIM cards should be issued only against properly verified identities, and customers also need to ensure that they do not have unauthorised or excess mobile connections registered in their name.

So, does this mean your SIM will suddenly stop working from August 24? Not necessarily. Here's what consumers should understand.

Why Have SIM Rules Been Tightened?

Mobile numbers are increasingly linked to banking, UPI, Aadhaar-related services, social media accounts and OTP-based authentication. This also makes SIM connections attractive to cybercriminals.

Fake or improperly obtained SIM cards can be used for phishing, impersonation, financial fraud and other illegal activities.

The government has therefore been strengthening subscriber verification and systems designed to identify mobile connections obtained using fake identities or exceeding prescribed limits. DoT's own annual reporting refers to action against mobile connections taken on fake credentials or beyond the permitted individual limit. (Department of Telecommunications)

How Many SIM Cards Can One Person Have?

The number of mobile connections that can be issued in one person's name is restricted.

Under the prevailing subscriber-verification framework, the commonly applicable ceiling is nine mobile connections per individual