Starting December 1, the government will have new rules for buying SIM cards.
Originally planned for October 1, 2023, the government has decided to start implementing them from December 1, extending it by two months.
If you plan to buy a SIM card or visit a SIM dealer, it’s crucial to have all the information about these rules. Not knowing these rules might cause problems for you later on.
SIM dealers will be verified
Under the new rule, sellers of SIM cards must do police and biometric checks, and they need to be registered to sell SIMs.
The telecom operator is responsible for verifying the sellers with the police.
If someone sells a SIM without following these rules, they may face a fine of Rs 10 lakh.
The government has provided a 12-month period for sellers to complete the verification.
SIM will be available only after demographic data
If a customer wants a new SIM card with their old number, their personal information will be collected by scanning the QR code on it.
This will be the rule for disconnection of the number
Under the new rule, you can’t get many SIM cards at once. The government now has a separate process for business connections.
But, like before, you can still buy up to 9 SIM cards using one ID proof. Also, if someone stops using their SIM card, that number will only be given to someone else after 90 days.
About the new rule, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav mentioned that the government has made these rules to stop cyber fraud, scams, and fraudulent calls related to SIM cards.
He mentioned that around 52 lakh connections have been stopped to prevent fraudulent calls.
Additionally, the Union Minister stated that the government has banned 67 thousand dealers who sell SIM cards..
