New SIM card rules from Dec 1 include bulk purchase restrictions – All you need to know

• The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is set to enforce new SIM rules in the country.
• The new SIM rules come into effect from December 1, 2023.
• Here’s everything you need to know about the new SIM card rules in India.

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is all set to enforce new rules for SIM cards, starting from December 1, 2023. The rules were announced on August 1, 2023 and were scheduled to come into effect from October 1, 2023. However, this was delayed by two months and is now coming into effect.

The new SIM card rules are aimed at dealing with frauds such as the SIM swap scam, fake SIMs and other online frauds. The new SIM card rules have been framed around issuance of new SIM cards.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new SIM card rules:

E-KYC

E-KYC or digital KYC has been made mandatory, for both new SIM cards and for those looking to get a SIM of their existing number. This means that you can no longer just give a copy of your ID proof to get a SIM card.

Bulk SIM cards

The new rules also impose restrictions on the issuance of bulk SIM cards. While individuals with businesses will still be able to procure bulk SIMs, regular users will be restricted to getting up to nine SIMs on a single ID.

Re-issuance of inactive SIM

SIM cards that have been deactivated cannot be re-issued for a period of 90 days, allowing ample time for users to get them re-activated, without having to worry about the SIM being issued to someone else. This is very important at present when a mobile number is connected to multiple services, which can be used just with OTP numbers.

SIM dealer verification

Starting from December 1, 2023, only authorised dealers will be able to issue SIM cards to customers. To ensure this, individuals must undergo a comprehensive verification process. Telecom operators will be required to register franchisees, distributors and point-of-sale (PoS) agents to prevent issuance of SIM cards to suspicious individuals.

Individuals engaging in issuance of SIM cards without registration may face a penalty of up to ₹10 lakh.

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