Starting December 1, new restrictions on bulk SIM card purchases will take effect. From December 1, 2023, India’s Department of Telecommunications will enforce new SIM card rules.
The rules were announced on August 1, 2023 and were set to come into effect on October 1, 2023. However, they were delayed by two months and are now taking effect.
With the new SIM card rules, frauds such as SIM swap scams, fake SIMs, and other online frauds can be addressed. The new SIM card rules are framed around the issuance of new SIM cards.
The new SIM card rules Bulk SIM card purchases restrictions
E-KYC verification
Getting a SIM card now requires e-KYC or digital KYC, which means you can no longer give just a copy of your ID proof.
Bulk SIM card purchases
Individuals with businesses will still be able to purchase bulk SIM cards, but regular users will only be able to purchase up to nine SIMs on one ID.
SIMs that have been inactive can be reissued
For a period of 90 days, SIM cards that have been deactivated cannot be reissued, so users have plenty of time to reactivate them, without worrying that they will be issued to someone else. At present, this is crucial when a mobile number is linked to multiple services, which can all be accessed through OTPs.
Verification of SIM dealers
SIM cards will be issued only by authorised dealers starting December 1, 2023. To ensure this, individuals will have to undergo a comprehensive verification process. To prevent SIM cards from being issued to suspicious individuals, telecom operators will be required to register franchisees, distributors, and point-of-sale agents.
SIM cards issued without registration may incur a penalty of up to ten lakh rupees.
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