Where to buy and activate a prepaid SIM card in India, and can you get one before arrival?

From messages by 6 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 37 days ago

TL;DR

Indian prepaid SIM cards are usually purchased after arrival, including at airport kiosks; one reported unlimited-data monthly package cost about ₹500. A local SIM generally cannot be arranged before travel, so confirm activation and mobile data while still at the counter.

What the community said

It is generally not possible to arrange an Indian SIM before arriving. If you need a local number for website registration, avoid unofficial intermediaries; use a trusted person’s phone temporarily or wait until you can buy a SIM in India.

Pre-arrival Indian SIM

An Indian SIM can be bought immediately at the airport. One recommendation mentions a red kiosk on the first floor to the right of the exit, with a one-month unlimited-data package for ₹500.

₹500 airport red kiosk

Have the SIM registered and activated at the sales counter, then test calls, mobile signal and data before leaving. This avoids discovering later that the card has not started working.

On-the-spot activation