Advisory as per the Telecommunications Act 2023: Meaning in Hindi
GK24 Editorial Team · Updated
If your phone has received an SMS that begins "Advisory as per the Telecommunications Act 2023", it is a general awareness message about the law, not a notice against you.
It warns that getting a SIM card or another telecom identifier by fraud, cheating or by pretending to be someone else is a crime under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, punishable with up to three years in jail, a fine of up to ₹50 lakh, or both. Below are the full message, its meaning in Hindi, the law behind it and what you should do.
The message
Advisory as per the Telecommunications Act 2023. Acquiring SIMs or telecom identifiers by fraud, cheating or personation is a punishable offence under the Telecommunications Act, 2023 with imprisonment up to 3 years, a fine up to Rs. 50 lakhs or both. The same penalty applies to abetment, attempt, or conspiracy.Meaning in Hindi (हिंदी में मतलब)
दूरसंचार अधिनियम 2023 के तहत सलाह: धोखाधड़ी, छल या किसी दूसरे व्यक्ति की पहचान अपनाकर (प्रतिरूपण) सिम कार्ड या दूरसंचार पहचानकर्ता हासिल करना दूरसंचार अधिनियम, 2023 के तहत दंडनीय अपराध है। इसके लिए 3 साल तक की जेल, 50 लाख रुपये तक का जुर्माना या दोनों हो सकते हैं। ऐसे अपराध में मदद करने या उकसाने (दुष्प्रेरण), उसकी कोशिश करने या उसकी साजिश रचने पर भी यही सजा लागू होती है।
आसान शब्दों में: नकली कागज़ों से या किसी और के नाम पर सिम न लें, और अपने नाम की सिम किसी और को न दें। ऐसा करना जेल और भारी जुर्माने वाला अपराध है।
Word by word
| Word in the SMS | Hindi | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Advisory | सलाह / चेतावनी | A notice telling people what the law says; it is not a charge against you. |
| Acquiring SIMs | सिम कार्ड हासिल करना | Getting a new mobile connection. |
| Telecom identifiers | दूरसंचार पहचानकर्ता | Numbers that identify a user or a device on a network, such as a mobile number or a phone's IMEI. |
| Fraud | धोखाधड़ी | Using false documents or false details. |
| Cheating | छल | Deceiving someone, such as a shop or an agent, to get a connection. |
| Personation | प्रतिरूपण (किसी और का रूप धरना) | Pretending to be another person, for example with someone else's ID proof or photo. |
| Punishable offence | दंडनीय अपराध | A crime for which a court can punish. |
| Abetment | दुष्प्रेरण (मदद करना या उकसाना) | Helping or encouraging someone to commit the offence. |
| Attempt | प्रयास | Trying to commit it, even if it does not succeed. |
| Conspiracy | षड्यंत्र / साजिश | Planning it together with others. |
What the law says
- Section 42(3)(e) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023 prohibits obtaining SIMs or other telecommunication identifiers through fraud, cheating or impersonation.
- Section 42(3)(c) prohibits tampering with telecommunication identifiers, such as the IMEI number of a mobile phone.
- A violation can bring imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to ₹50 lakh, or both.
- Under Section 42(7) these offences are cognizable and non-bailable: the police can register a case and arrest without a warrant, and bail is for a court to decide, not a right.
- Under Section 42(6), anyone who abets or promotes such an offence faces the same punishment.
As set out by the Department of Telecommunications on 31 August 2026 and in a PIB backgrounder on 23 September 2026.
What counts as an offence
- Taking a SIM with fake documents, or through fraud, cheating or impersonation.
- Handing over, selling or renting out a SIM taken in your name to someone who misuses it. The Department of Telecommunications has warned that the original subscriber can then be held legally liable.
- Using apps, websites or any other means to change the caller ID (Calling Line Identity) or other telecom identifiers.
- Using, buying or assembling modems, modules, SIM boxes or other equipment whose IMEI has been changed or can be changed.
What should you do?
- Nothing, if every SIM in your name was taken with your own documents and is used by you.
- Check the mobile connections registered in your name on the Sanchar Saathi portal (sancharsaathi.gov.in) or app, and report any you do not recognise.
- Never lend, sell or rent a SIM taken in your name, and never share your ID or an OTP to "activate" a SIM for someone else.
- Before buying a used phone, dial *#06# to see its IMEI and verify it on Sanchar Saathi, or send KYM followed by the 15-digit IMEI by SMS to 14422.
- If your phone is lost or stolen, file a police report, get a duplicate SIM, and then block the handset on Sanchar Saathi (CEIR) with the report and an ID proof. SMS works on a re-issued SIM only after 24 hours, so the OTP step has to wait that long.
- If you have lost money to a fraud, call the cyber crime helpline 1930 or report it at cybercrime.gov.in.
For exams: the Telecommunications Act, 2023 at a glance
| Passed by Parliament | December 2023; received the President's assent on 24 December 2023 |
|---|---|
| Replaced | Indian Telegraph Act, 1885; Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933; Telegraph Wires (Unlawful Possession) Act, 1950 |
| Ministry | Ministry of Communications (Department of Telecommunications) |
| SIM by fraud or impersonation | Section 42(3)(e) |
| Tampering with IMEI or other identifiers | Section 42(3)(c) |
| Punishment | Up to 3 years' imprisonment, fine up to ₹50 lakh, or both |
| Nature of offence | Cognizable and non-bailable (Section 42(7)) |
| Citizen portal | Sanchar Saathi (sancharsaathi.gov.in) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the meaning of "Advisory as per the Telecommunications Act 2023" in Hindi?
It means "दूरसंचार अधिनियम 2023 के तहत सलाह". The message warns that getting a SIM or telecom identifier by fraud, cheating or impersonation is a crime with up to three years in jail, a fine of up to ₹50 lakh, or both.
Why did I get this message?
It is a general awareness advisory explaining the law to mobile users. Receiving it does not mean that any complaint or case has been filed against you.
What is the punishment for taking a SIM on fake documents?
Under Section 42(3)(e) of the Telecommunications Act, 2023, imprisonment of up to three years, a fine of up to ₹50 lakh, or both. The offence is cognizable and non-bailable.
What does "personation" mean?
Pretending to be another person, for example using someone else's identity documents or photograph to get a SIM. In Hindi it is प्रतिरूपण.
Can I be punished if someone misuses a SIM taken in my name?
The Department of Telecommunications has warned that lending, renting or handing over a SIM taken in your name for misuse can make you, the original subscriber, legally liable. Never give away a SIM that is registered to you.
Is this SMS fake?
The advisory only explains the law. It does not ask you to click a link, call a number or share an OTP. A message that asks for any of these is not this advisory: do not respond, and report it on Sanchar Saathi.