New SIM Rules: Cyber fraud cases are increasing rapidly every year in India. Crores and billions of rupees have been defrauded, and many lives have been ruined.
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New SIM Rules: Cyber fraud cases are increasing rapidly every year in India. Crores and billions of rupees have been defrauded, and many lives have been ruined. In many cases, people are devastated after losing their savings. Most of these crimes are being operated from abroad, posing a serious challenge for the government and regulatory agencies.
Government agencies working to strengthen cybersecurity
The RBI, NPCI, and TRAI are continuously introducing new regulations and technological changes to curb cybercrime. Recently, NPCI disabled the UPI feature that fraudsters used to defraud people by sending money requests. TRAI has also tightened KYC rules related to SIM cards and mandated a separate number series for promotional calls.
Additionally, the RBI and TRAI are working together on a digital system that will allow bank customers to view, manage, and revoke previously approved promotional calls and messages.
These major cybersecurity changes will be implemented in 2026
The government and regulators are now preparing measures that will play a crucial role in protecting common mobile users from fraud. Two major changes are the most discussed.
CNAP: Caller’s name will now be visible on every call
Most cybercriminals pose as bank officials, government employees, or acquaintances. To eliminate this fraud, TRAI has directed all telecom companies to implement Caller Name Presentation (CNAP).
Under CNAP, the caller’s verified name will appear on the user’s screen during any call. This name will be derived from the KYC data provided at the time of SIM purchase. Currently, this system is in the trial stage and is expected to be implemented nationwide by early 2026.
SIM-Binding
Many fraudsters use Indian numbers on WhatsApp and other messaging apps and discard the SIM cards as soon as they are finished so they can’t be tracked. To prevent this problem, the Department of Telecommunications has decided to make SIM-binding mandatory.
After SIM-binding is implemented, a physical SIM card for that number will be required in the phone to use any messaging app. The app will not work without a SIM. In November, the DoT gave companies 90 days to implement this rule, which is expected to be fully implemented by 2026.
What will change for the average user?
With the implementation of these new rules, fraudulent calls and messages could be significantly curbed. The identity of the caller will be clearly visible, making it more difficult for fraudsters to misuse messaging apps. 2026 could prove to be a major turning point in terms of digital security for mobile users.
