DoT Enforces Nine-SIM-Per-Person Limit Using Subscriber Photograph Verification

20 August 2026National

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a circular on 17 August 2026 capping mobile connections at nine per person across most of India, and six in Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and the North Eastern states, applied across all operators combined. From 23-24 August 2026, DoT will share subscriber photographs of those at the limit via the Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) for daily, next-day verification, suspending any excess SIM immediately; by 30 November 2026 operators must shift to real-time photographic verification at enrolment. The measure targets telecom-enabled cybercrime, including 'digital arrest' scams.

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DoT functions under the Ministry of Communications | The Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) is used for telecom fraud detection and verification | 'Digital arrest' scams involve fraudulent calls impersonating police or government agencies

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