New Delhi: The Government of India has taken a big step to stop cyber crimes. According to the new rules of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), from March 1, 2026, messaging apps like WhatsApp will not work without an active SIM card. This means that if your phone does not have a registered SIM or it has become inactive, the app will stop.

Why were new rules brought?

DoT had issued cyber security rules on 28 November 2025. In these, ‘SIM binding’ of messaging apps has been made mandatory. Its objective is to reduce fake accounts, online fraud and cyber fraud. Many times people commit fraud by using old or disconnected numbers.

This rule will put a stop to such cases. The government had given 90 days time to the app companies to implement the rules. Now no extension will be given, because national security is priority.

What is SIM binding and how does it work?

Under this rule, apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal will have to constantly check whether the number with which the account is created is active and present in the SIM phone or not. If the SIM is removed, replaced or deactivated, the app will stop working immediately.

The app will restart only after inserting or activating the SIM. WhatsApp has recently started testing this feature. In the beta version it is visible that the app is checking the SIM.

WhatsApp Web will log out automatically

There will be automatic logout every 6 hours on WhatsApp web or desktop. To use it again, you will have to login by scanning the QR code from the phone. With this, presence of SIM will be necessary on the accompanying device also.

On which apps will the rule apply?

This rule is mainly applicable to apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, Snapchat, ShareChat, Josh, JioChat and Aarttai. These apps identify the user by phone number.

Problems will increase for users

• It will be difficult to run WhatsApp on old phones or Wi-Fi only devices.


• Changing SIM during travel can also cause problems.


• Cyber ​​security will be strong, but users may have to face some inconvenience.

The government says that this step is necessary to stop fraud. The industry has reported challenges in enforcement, especially on devices without SIM slots, but DoT is strict. This change will come into effect from March 1. Users are advised to keep an active SIM and follow the rules.