The Department of Telecommunications directed all Indian telecom operators to use subscriber photos to enforce limits on the number of SIM cards owned [1].
This measure aims to curb digital-arrest scams and other fraudulent activities that rely on the possession of multiple SIM cards to deceive victims [1], [2].
Under the new directive, operators must upload photos of any subscriber who has reached the maximum limit of nine SIM cards [1] to the Digital Intelligence Platform. This process allows the government to track and block the issuance of additional SIMs to the same individual. The upload process was scheduled to begin on Aug. 23, 2024 [1].
Following the upload phase, telecom operators were required to begin photo-matching and the refusal of new SIM applications on Aug. 24, 2024 [1]. These checks will take place at all telecom retail outlets and stores across the country [1].
While the nationwide cap is generally set at nine SIMs [1], there are reported differences for specific regions. Some reports indicate the limit is six SIMs for subscribers in Jammu & Kashmir, and the North-East [2].
Digital-arrest scams typically involve fraudsters posing as law enforcement officials to intimidate victims into transferring money. By restricting the number of active connections per person, the government seeks to limit the infrastructure available to these criminal networks [1], [2].
“Operators must upload subscriber photos of anyone who has reached the nine-SIM limit”
This policy represents a shift toward biometric-linked enforcement of telecom regulations. By integrating subscriber photos into the Digital Intelligence Platform, the Indian government is attempting to close loopholes where individuals could bypass SIM limits using fraudulent identification, thereby reducing the scale of coordinated cybercrime.
