Taking multiple SIM cards under your name can get you in trouble. You may have to pay a huge penalty if you have taken more SIM cards than what is specified by the telecom law. Violating the rule repeatedly can also land you in jail. It is important to know about the latest rules on how many SIM cards you can take and how to check how many SIM cards are registered under your name online. Read on
How many SIM cards can you take under your name?
The maximum number of SIM cards that an individual can take will depend on where he or she is taking the SIM card. Nittin Arora, Partner, Grant Thornton Bharat says, “The maximum SIM cards limit has been set for nine cards per person, except in the case of Jammu & Kashmir, Assam and Northeast Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) where it is limited to six.”The new Telecommunications Act, 2023 gave effect to the existing rules as specified above about the maximum number of SIM cards that can be held by an individual. Explaining it further, Arun Prabhu, Partner (Head – Technology & Telecommunications), Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas says, “The Telecommunications Act, 2023 does not mandate any specific limitation on the number of SIM cards an individual can hold. In effect, it gives effect to existing rules on subscriber verification.”While the new telecom law did not specify a limit about the maximum number of SIM card that a individual can have so the existing rules will apply in this case. “The new Telecommunications Act, 2023 does not specify a limit. Currently the overall limit is 9. For J&K, Assam and North East the limit is 6,” says Abhishek Mitra, Counsel, DSK Legal
What happens if you take more SIM cards than the prescribed number
Arora from Grant Thornton Bharat explains the punishment prescribed by the new Telecommunications Act. “First-time offence for obtaining SIM cards beyond the prescribed limit would be met with a fine up to Rs 50,000, which would go up to Rs 2 lakh for each subsequent offence.”
