If you don’t check this SIM rule today, you could lose ₹2 Lakh tomorrow!

Let’s be honest, in India, having one phone number is cute, but having two or three? That’s peak adulting jugaad. One for UPI/Aadhaar, one for all the shady subscription sign-ups, and maybe one just for family. We all think, “Yaar, ek extra SIM se kya hi farak padta hai?”

But hold on, because the government just dropped a major reality check, and it’s no joke.

The real story isn’t just about having too many SIMs; it’s about whose name those SIMs are actually registered under. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT), now backed by the new Telecommunications Act, is setting the record straight: generally, you’re capped at nine connections on one Aadhaar ID. If your hometown is in the Northeast, Assam, or J&K, that limit shrinks to six.

The real trouble: ₹2 lakh fine

Now, if you casually cross that limit, the scene gets serious. Exceeding the cap can slap you with fines, starting at ₹50,000 but can escalate up to ₹2 lakh for repeated violations.

But here’s the actual nightmare fuel: It’s not your 10th WhatsApp number they are worried about. It's the ones you don’t even know exist. Scammers often use stolen or compromised IDs, yours, for instance, to register SIMs for bank frauds, cybercrime, and digital arrests. If a SIM registered in your name does anything illegal, forget the ₹2 lakh fine; you could be facing jail time and a fine up to ₹50 lakh. And Mummy kasam, that’s not a joke.

The Sanchar Saathi Portal

If that sounds like a Bollywood thriller you want no part of, there’s good news. The DoT launched the Sanchar Saathi portal precisely so you can play detective with your own identity.

It’s surprisingly simple and totally necessary for peace of mind.

1. Head straight to the Sanchar Saathi portal (yes, they also have an app, if you must).
2. Enter your main mobile number, verify the OTP
3. Tap on ‘Know Mobile Connections in Your Name.’, and BAM!

You get a definitive list of every mobile connection registered against your Aadhaar. If you see a random number on that list, that’s the scammer’s SIM. Hit the ‘Not My Number’ option and report it for immediate disconnection.

Seriously, this isn't just a boring government update. This is like getting free credit monitoring, but for your identity. Do your digital detox today, or get ready to pay the price. Be safe, be Sanchar Saathi.