If you use messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram, you might notice an important change in the near future. The government wants these apps to be linked to the same active SIM with which the account is created. This means that once the account is created by entering the OTP, the application will not need to continue as before even if the SIM is removed.

According to reports, the Department of Telecommunication’s instructions are set to come into effect from January 1, 2027. App companies have been given time till December 31, 2026 to comply with these rules. It aims to prevent cyber crimes through online fraud and fake identities.

What is the SIM binding rule?

Understand it as you have created a WhatsApp account with your mobile number and verified it by entering the OTP. After this you removed the SIM from the phone, but continued to use WhatsApp. Running such apps may be prohibited under SIM binding rules.

According to this rule, an active SIM linked to the number with which the account is created should be present in the phone. If the SIM is missing or not activated, application usage may be affected. However, this does not mean that all users will have to create a new account on January 1, 2027. The actual change will depend on how app companies implement this rule.

Will WhatsApp Web and Computer also be affected?

This change may also affect the web or desktop versions of WhatsApp Web and other messaging apps. Basic instructions from the Department of Telecommunications include a provision not to keep a web session running for more than six consecutive hours and then relink it by scanning a QR code.

This can make it difficult to use someone else’s account for an extended period of time without re-verification. However, a reply to Parliament in April 2026 called for web session logouts to be implemented on a risk basis. No definite time frame was given in that reply.

Why does the government want to enforce this rule?

The government says some fraudsters create accounts on the messaging app with Indian mobile numbers and later remove the SIM. However, the account continues. Such accounts can be used to impersonate people as fake government officials, entrap them in digital arrests and defraud them of money in the name of investments.

Linking the account to the active SIM through SIM binding is expected to help in investigating such cases. However, this will not end all forms of online fraud. Fraudsters can still try to target people through fake links, OTPs and other methods.

What do dual SIM users have to do?

If you have two SIMs in your phone, keep in mind that the SIM associated with the number with which you created a WhatsApp or other messaging account must be active and present in the phone. If you use another number daily, check the status of your registered number. If you change the SIM, get a new SIM or change the phone, the app may ask for verification again. However, the process in different circumstances will depend on the system implemented by the app companies. The government has also clarified that if the SIM is present in the phone and the user is roaming abroad, mere roaming will not be a hindrance to complying with these instructions.

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