India's Department of Telecommunications has limited the number of SIM cards an individual can own to nine [1].
The regulation aims to reduce online fraud and the use of fake SIM cards, activities that have historically facilitated fraudulent operations across the country [1, 2].
Effective Aug. 24, 2026 [1, 2], the government has issued strict directives to telecom companies to enforce these limits. Under the new rules, any mobile connections exceeding the limit of nine per person will be blocked [1]. The Department of Telecommunications said that if a person has more than nine SIMs in their name, they will not receive a new SIM card [1].
To further secure the registration process, the government is updating identity verification requirements. Biometric KYC is now mandatory for all new SIM card connections [3]. This shift toward biometric verification is intended to ensure that the identity of the user matches the registered credentials, reducing the possibility of identity theft or the creation of anonymous accounts.
A government spokesperson said that the government has tightened rules and issued strict instructions to telecom companies to curb fraud [2].
The rollout applies nationwide and requires telecom providers to audit existing accounts to identify users who exceed the nine-SIM threshold [1]. Users who find themselves over the limit may face service interruptions for their additional lines as the blocking process begins.
“Any mobile connections exceeding the limit of nine per person will be blocked.”
This move signals a shift toward more aggressive digital identity management in India. By capping the number of active connections and mandating biometric data, the government is attempting to dismantle the infrastructure used by scammers to rotate numbers and evade law enforcement. While this increases security, it may impact power users or business owners who managed multiple lines under a single personal identity.
