Most of us know our own phone number. Fewer people know how many SIM cards registered against their ID are still active. That gap matters, because a connection taken out in your name can be misused. Also, India now enforces a firm cap on how many you can hold. The good news: the check takes about two minutes on the government’s Sanchar Saathi portal.

Why the count matters now

Under Department of Telecommunications (DoT) rules, one person can hold up to nine mobile connections across all operators in India. In Jammu and Kashmir, Assam and the North-East, the limit is six. The cap itself dates back to 2012. However, enforcement became much stricter this year.

A DoT circular dated 17 August 2026 asks operators to check a central subscriber database before they issue a new SIM. From 24 August, operators must tell anyone already at the limit and refuse the new connection. They also have until 30 November 2026 to build these checks into real time activation. Meanwhile, operators must suspend any connection activated beyond the limit.

So an old or unknown number in your name can stop you from getting a SIM you actually need. It matters for apps too. For example, WhatsApp will soon need the registered SIM inside your phone, as we explained in our piece on WhatsApp SIM binding.

How to check SIM cards registered to you

The service is called Know Mobile Connections in Your Name. It is free, and it works on the Sanchar Saathi website as well as the Sanchar Saathi app.

  1. Open sancharsaathi.gov.in, or install the Sanchar Saathi app.
  2. Under the citizen services section, choose Know Mobile Connections in Your Name.
  3. Enter your 10 digit mobile number and the captcha.
  4. Type in the one time password (OTP) sent to that number.
  5. Review the list of numbers linked to your identity documents.

Take your time with the list. Also, compare it with SIMs your family members use, since parents often buy connections for children in their own name.

What each option on the list means

Next to every number, the portal lets you mark its status. Then you press Report to submit your choices.

Option When to use it
Not my number You never took this connection, so it may be fraud.
Not required The number was yours, but you no longer use it.

Leave the numbers you still use as they are. In short, only mark what you want gone.

What happens after you report a number

Reporting a number does not cut it off instantly. According to Sanchar Saathi, outgoing services on a reported connection stop within 30 days. Then incoming services stop within 45 days. Finally, the operator disconnects it if nobody re-verifies it within 60 days.

This window gives a genuine user time to come forward. Still, if the number might belong to a relative, talk to them before you report it.

Common mistakes to avoid

  • Checking once and forgetting. One OTP shows every connection linked to your identity. Even so, repeat the check every few months.
  • Reporting a family SIM by mistake. A number you do not recognise may be a parent’s or a child’s. So ask around first.
  • Using lookalike websites. The official address ends in gov.in. Also, never share the OTP with anyone who calls about it.
  • Ignoring an SMS about excess SIMs. Operators now notify people who reach the limit. Act on it, because extra connections face suspension.

Other useful tools on Sanchar Saathi

The same portal offers a few more services worth knowing about. Each one solves a common phone problem.

  • Block a lost or stolen phone. First, file a police report. Then get a duplicate SIM for the lost number, because the OTP goes there. After that, submit the IMEI blocking form with the report copy and an ID proof. Save the request ID, since you will need it to unblock the phone later.
  • Chakshu. Use it to report suspected fraud calls and messages, as well as unwanted commercial communication.
  • Know genuineness of your handset. This checks a phone’s IMEI, which helps before you buy a used device. Dial *#06# on the phone to see its IMEI.
  • Report international calls with an Indian number. Use it when a call shows an Indian number but seems to come from abroad.

One quirk is worth planning for. SMS on a reissued SIM works only after 24 hours, so allow for that delay when you block a lost phone.

The short version

Checking the SIM cards registered in your name is quick, free and official. Do it today, report anything unfamiliar, and clear out old numbers you no longer use. Then set a reminder to check again in a few months.

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