TL;DR: Go to sancharsaathi.gov.in, open “Know mobile connections in your name,” enter your number and OTP, and you'll see every connection linked to your identity. Tick any number you don't recognise as “Not my number” and the operator has to verify and disconnect it. Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 one person may hold at most nine SIMs (six in Jammu and Kashmir and the North East). An unknown SIM in your name usually means your ID was misused, so check your Aadhaar too.

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Why check the SIMs in your name?

Scammers rarely use their own numbers. Many use SIM cards issued against someone else's ID, often an Aadhaar copy picked up from a shop, hotel or leaked document. If a fraud is run from a number in your name, the trail leads to you first.

The scale is big. The DoT's December 2025 update says more than 1.43 crore connections were disconnected after people marked them “Not my number,” and over 40 lakh fraudulent connections were removed after citizen reports.

How to check, step by step

  1. Open sancharsaathi.gov.in or the Sanchar Saathi app.
  2. Choose “Know mobile connections in your name” (older guides call this TAFCOP).
  3. Enter your 10-digit mobile number and the captcha, then the OTP you receive.
  4. You'll see a list of numbers issued against your identity, shown partly masked.
  5. For each one: mark “Not my number” if you never took it, or “Not required” if it's yours but no longer in use. Leave your own active numbers alone.
  6. Submit and note the reference ID. The operator verifies and disconnects flagged numbers.

Check the numbers for older family members too. They are frequent targets, and their ID copies often sit in many hands.

The legal limit: nine SIMs per person

When the Telecommunications Act, 2023 came into force on 26 June 2024, it set a cap of nine SIM cards per person, and six for people in Jammu and Kashmir and the North Eastern states, as reported by Onmanorama. Penalties quoted in that report:

That last point is why a SIM you didn't take is serious: whoever got it committed an offence using your identity.

Found a SIM you didn't take? Do this next

  1. Flag it on Sanchar Saathi as above, and keep the reference.
  2. Check your Aadhaar authentication history to see where your ID was used. Our guide on checking if your Aadhaar was misused walks through it.
  3. Lock your Aadhaar biometrics so it can't be used for fingerprint-based SIM activation: how to lock Aadhaar biometrics.
  4. If money moved or someone is impersonating you, report on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in. See identity theft warning signs in India.

Can I check the owner's name of someone else's SIM?

Not through Sanchar Saathi. It only shows connections tied to your own identity after OTP verification. Apps and websites claiming to show “SIM owner name by number” usually pull from caller ID apps or leaked data, which is exactly how your own name ends up exposed. Our post on removing your name from Truecaller explains that side.

The rest of the Sanchar Saathi tools, from blocking a stolen phone to reporting fraud calls, are covered in our Sanchar Saathi guide.

Unknown SIMs are one sign your details are out there. A free email exposure check shows whether your email is in known breaches, and the full scan adds your phone number.

What about CNAP, the new caller name display?

India is rolling out Calling Name Presentation (CNAP), which shows a caller's name on your screen using the subscriber records from the customer application form filled in when the SIM was bought, not crowd-sourced phonebooks. Business Standard reported in October 2025 that DoT and TRAI set a March 2026 target for every telecom circle, with the feature on by default and an opt-out. That is the only legitimate “SIM owner name” you'll see, and only when that number calls you. To cut promotional calls, register for TRAI DND.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I check how many SIMs are in my name?

Use the know mobile connections feature on sancharsaathi.gov.in or the Sanchar Saathi app. Enter your mobile number and OTP to see every connection issued in your name.

How many SIM cards can one person have in India?

Up to nine under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, and six for residents of Jammu and Kashmir and the North Eastern states.

What happens when I mark a number as not mine?

The request goes to the telecom operator, which verifies it and disconnects the connection. Keep the reference ID shown after you submit.

Can I find the owner name of any mobile number?

Not through official tools. Sanchar Saathi only shows connections in your own name after OTP verification.

What should I do if a SIM was issued using my Aadhaar?

Report it as not my number on Sanchar Saathi, check your Aadhaar authentication history, lock your biometrics, and report on 1930 or cybercrime.gov.in if it was used for fraud.

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