New Delhi, April 2 The government has extended the deadline for linking SIMs to mobile messaging apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal, etc., to December 31, following requests from the industry, according to sources.
The SIM-binding rule requires messaging platforms to provide their service on a mobile device only if an active SIM is available in it.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has also removed the mandatory six-hour log-out rule for the web version of apps, replacing it with a risk-based log-out.
The DoT issued directions to major app-based communication service providers on November 28, 2025, to ensure that their services are continuously linked to the active SIM card in the device from February 26 and to report compliance by March 28.
"The government has extended the deadline for the application of the SIM-binding rule to December 31, following representation from industry players," an official source told