India's telecom department wants messaging apps tied to an active SIM or eSIM from January 1, 2027, so chats could stop if your number goes inactive.
WhatsApp and Telegram accounts in India could stop working if the SIM card behind them is removed, replaced or goes inactive. Under a proposal from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), messaging apps would have to confirm that the number on your account is tied to an active SIM or eSIM in your phone. The compliance deadline is December 31, 2026, so the change would bite from January 1, 2027.
The idea is called SIM binding. It means an app account must stay connected to a live mobile connection that has been identity-verified (the KYC check you do when you buy a SIM). Until now, many people could set up an account and keep using it after taking the SIM out. The proposal would end that.
If the registered SIM goes missing or inactive, the app could suspend your account's functions. It would work again once the same number is restored through a valid SIM card or eSIM profile. The deadline was extended to December 31, 2026 after the industry asked for more time.
The DoT says fraudsters buy SIM cards, register messaging accounts, and then run those accounts from outside India. The rule is meant to fight phishing, impersonation calls and so-called digital arrest scams. The government also points to the large financial losses Indian consumers have suffered from cyber fraud.
WhatsApp and Telegram are expected to be covered because they use phone numbers to sign people up. Snapchat is reportedly unlikely to be covered. Signal's status is unclear, as reports say it had not responded to government communications when the issue was reviewed.
Some users face more risk than others:
Who can relax: the material does not suggest WhatsApp will stop on certain iPhone or Android models. The rule is about SIM checks, not device brands. An active eSIM also counts, so you would not need a physical SIM card.
The steps in the alert box above cover the basics: check which number your account uses and keep that line active in the phone you actually use.
This is still a proposed framework, and the details of how each app will check your SIM have not been spelled out in the material. It is also unknown whether any messaging platform will challenge the rules in court. Watch for notices from your app or mobile provider before January 1, 2027.
Keep the SIM or eSIM for your messaging number active in the phone you use, and watch for app or carrier notices before January 1, 2027.
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