DoT Circular Sets Nine‑SIM Cap, Special Limits for Certain States

The Department of Telecommunications has issued a binding circular that caps the number of SIM cards per individual at nine, with an even tighter restriction of six for Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and the Northeastern states. The rule became effective on Monday.

Under the new guidelines, telecom operators must identify customers who are close to these thresholds. They are required to use the Customer Application Form (CAF) to detail every mobile connection already associated with the subscriber’s identity, regardless of operator or service area. This data feeds into the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP), a government‑run system that flags users who have reached the maximum allowed connections.

The DIP also employs a photograph‑based verification method. Photos of users at the limit are stored and can be downloaded by operators to confirm identity before processing any further SIM requests.

Should a user obtain an additional connection beyond the prescribed limit, the connection will be blocked immediately after activation. The circular explicitly states that any extra line activated in breach of the rule will stay suspended until the issue is resolved.

The initiative is aimed at curbing the proliferation of duplicate SIMs, enhancing national security, and simplifying regulatory enforcement across India’s telecom sector.