New SIM Card Rules to Come Into Effect from December 1: Know What Has Changed

By Shivangi Agarwal • Updated On Dec 5, 2023

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India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has enforced new rules for SIM cards from today (1 December 2023). The rules were announced on August 1 this year and were earlier claimed to be implemented from October 1. However, the process was delayed by 2 months and now finally the rules will come into effect from today.

With new SIM card rules, GOI aims to deal with fraud better and ensure the safety of Indian users. The new rules include E-KYC rules, Bulk issuing of SIM cards, and more. Read on to learn all the new rules.

New SIM Card Rules

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New rules require more details about the person who is purchasing the SIM card to be collected. This would help the authorities track down the person associated with the SIM easily.
Purchasing SIM cards for existing numbers will need Aadhaar and demographic data.
E-KYC or digital KYC has been made mandatory for new SIM cards and for those looking to get a SIM of their existing number. No SIM cards will be issued with just a copy of your ID Proof.
The person selling SIM cards will also have to go through verification. SIM dealers will now have to be verified and they will have to register the SIM cards they sell. In case, the new guidelines aren’t followed, SIM dealers can be fined up to Rs. 10,00,000.
If you are an individual, you can get SIM cards in bulk only if you try to get it through a business connection. For normal users, the upper limit for SIM cards is 9 from one ID.
If someone has gotten their SIM deactivated, it will not be allocated to another user for the next 90 days. Until that time, one can delete all the data associated with the number. This is an important move as nowadays a mobile number is connected to multiple services which can be used just with OTPs.
If any SIM vendor is not registered by November 30, they will have to pay a fine of up to Rs. 10 lakh and there are chances of imprisonment too.

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Shivangi Agarwal

Shivangi is a tech writer at Smartprix, where she covers consumer technology news with a focus on smartphones, wearables, laptops, and the evolving world of OTT streaming. Since joining the team in August 2021, she has written over 120 in-depth reviews, comparisons, and buying guides aimed at helping readers navigate the ever-changing tech landscape.

With a strong foundation in English literature and education, Shivangi brings clarity, insight, and a reader-first approach to every story. Her expertise lies in breaking down complex features into accessible, practical insights—whether she’s reviewing the latest smartphone or exploring trends in infotainment.

Shivangi holds a B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. in English, along with a B.Ed in English and Social Studies. She is based in Faridabad, India. You can follow her work on Smartprix or connect with her for tech-related queries.

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