India to Mandate SIM Binding for WhatsApp and Telegram from January 2027

businesstoday.in — October 22, 2026 at 02:01 PM UTC

India will mandate SIM binding for messaging apps like WhatsApp and Telegram starting January 1, 2027, requiring accounts to be linked to a registered SIM card installed in the user's device, according to new Department of Telecommunications rules. The directive, issued on November 28, 2025, under the Telecom Cyber Security Rule, aims to curb cyber fraud by making it harder for scammers to misuse mobile numbers and messaging accounts. Users accessing apps over Wi-Fi without their registered SIM, or on linked devices like tablets and computers, may face restrictions or lose access. The rules apply to platforms including WhatsApp, Telegram, Snapchat, Arattai, ShareChat, Josh, JioChat, and Signal. Frequent SIM changers and travelers could also encounter access issues. WhatsApp has reportedly begun beta testing SIM binding for Android.

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