India’s new SIM-binding rules could affect WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal users from January 1, requiring messaging accounts to remain linked to their registered SIM cards.
Popular messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal, are expected to comply with the government’s SIM-binding requirements, with a compliance deadline of December 31 and implementation expected from January 1.
Under the directions issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), messaging applications covered by the order must remain linked to the SIM card used to register an account. The measure aims to address the misuse of Indian mobile numbers for cybercrime and digital fraud.
The new requirements could affect users who access messaging services on devices without their registered SIM cards, as well as people who frequently switch devices or use linked services.
Most messaging applications verify a user's mobile number through a one-time password (OTP) sent by SMS. After verification, an account can generally continue working even when the SIM card is removed, replaced or deactivated.
SIM binding introduces an additional connection between the account and the registered SIM card installed in the device. Under the proposed requirements, users may need to keep the relevant active SIM in their devices to continue accessing the service.
The change is intended to make it more difficult for people to misuse phone numbers after removing or deactivating the associated SIM card.
The Department of Telecommunications says cybercriminals exploit the existing system to conduct digital fraud, including scams that operate across national borders.
When messaging accounts remain active after a registered SIM is removed or deactivated, fraudsters may be able to continue using Indian mobile numbers to impersonate officials or conduct so-called digital arrest scams.
According to the Ministry of Communications, cyber-fraud losses exceeded ₹22,800 crore in the previous year cited in its announcement.
The government has described SIM binding as a measure to improve traceability, prevent the misuse of telecom identifiers and strengthen security across India's digital communications ecosystem. The directions were issued under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules.
The November 28, 2025, order covers several popular messaging and social communication platforms, including:
Telegram
Snapchat
Arattai
ShareChat
Josh
JioChat
Signal
WhatsApp could experience a particularly significant impact because of its reported user base of approximately 500 million people in India.
The practical effect on individual users will depend on how each covered platform implements the requirements and how its applications handle SIM verification and linked devices.
The platforms were initially given 90 days to implement the requirements and 120 days to submit compliance reports. However, industry concerns about technical implementation led the government to extend the deadline.
Some requirements have also been adjusted. For example, the earlier proposal for web versions to log users out every six hours was replaced with a risk-based logout requirement.
WhatsApp has also reportedly begun testing SIM-binding functionality in its Android beta version. Such testing may help the platform assess how to implement the rules while limiting disruption to users.
Users may experience access restrictions if they remove or deactivate the SIM associated with their messaging account. Keeping the registered SIM active in the relevant device could become important for continued access.
People who use WhatsApp Web or other linked-device features may face additional verification or relinking requirements. The DoT wants users to be able to reconnect devices through QR-code scanning, although the precise experience will depend on implementation.
Users who access messaging services on tablets or secondary phones without a SIM card may face additional hurdles if the application cannot verify the registered SIM as required.
People who frequently change SIM cards while travelling or use messaging applications across several devices could encounter interruptions. Users who rely on a single account across multiple devices may need to review how their preferred services handle verification.
A survey by consumer-policy think tank CUTS International found that 80% of consumers and more than 60% of small businesses expected disruptions from the requirements.
The survey also indicated that around 86% of users allowed family members to use their phone or SIM for messaging. These findings highlight concerns about how the rules could affect everyday communication and shared-device practices.
The extent of disruption will depend on the final implementation and the measures platforms introduce to support different user needs.
Messaging platforms that fail to comply could face action under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024.
The DoT also plans to introduce a Mobile Number Verification platform to help determine whether phone numbers belong to genuine users. The initiative is intended to strengthen the verification of mobile identifiers and support efforts to curb digital fraud.
Conclusion
India’s SIM-binding requirements aim to reduce cybercrime by strengthening the link between messaging accounts and registered SIM cards. While the rules could improve traceability, they may also affect linked devices, tablets, travellers and users who frequently switch SIMs. The actual impact will depend on how messaging platforms implement the requirements and communicate changes to their users.