From 1 January 2027, messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal are expected to work in India only while the SIM card for your registered number is inside the phone you use them on. Platforms have until 31 December 2026 to build this “SIM binding” into their apps, according to reports this week. The rule comes from Department of Telecommunications (DoT) directions issued in November 2025 under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules. The first deadline was in February 2026, and it was moved to the end of this year after the industry pushed back.

The directions name WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Snapchat, Arattai, ShareChat, Josh and JioChat, and apply to apps that use Indian mobile numbers to identify users.

Why it matters

WhatsApp SIM binding is meant to close a gap. Today, an account keeps working even after its SIM is removed, deactivated or taken abroad. DoT says scammers use this to run impersonation calls and digital arrest frauds with Indian numbers from anywhere. When it announced the rule, the government cited cyber fraud losses of more than ₹22,800 crore in a year.

If you use one phone with the SIM inside it, little should change. The people most likely to notice are those who use WhatsApp on a phone without the registered SIM, such as a second phone on Wi-Fi or a work phone, and those who switch SIMs often. The original directions also asked web versions to log out every six hours. PTI reported that this has been replaced with logouts based on a risk assessment. How each app handles these cases is still unclear. WhatsApp and Arattai have said they are working to comply, and Apple has updated iOS to support the requirement, CNBC reported.

Broadband India Forum, an industry body whose members include Meta and Google, has argued that the directions go beyond what the parent law allows. That is the industry’s view. The rule stands for now.

What you can do

  • Keep the SIM for your WhatsApp number in the phone you use WhatsApp on most.
  • If you use WhatsApp on a second phone or tablet without that SIM, expect to re-link or verify it in the new year.
  • Travelling abroad should be fine as long as your Indian SIM stays in the handset on roaming, DoT has said.
  • Watch for in-app notices from WhatsApp and Telegram in December that explain exactly what changes.
  • Ignore messages warning that your account will be shut down unless you click a link. Scammers often use rule changes as bait.

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