After checking the use of SMS to prevent spreading of rumours which had led to mass exodus of northeasterners from certain states, the government on Thursday increased the number of SMS to 20 per day with immediate effect.
According to a notification issued by the Ministry of Communication, it has been decided to revise the permissible limit of “bulk SMS/MMS to 20 in place of five with immediate effect”.
“The other conditions will remain the same,” it added.
The decision to put a cap on the number of SMS was taken after reports of widespread circulation of SMS and MMS containing misleading information about Assam violence, threats to people of northeastern origin living in other parts of the country and doctored videos.
The Home Ministry has asked Department of Telecommunications to implement the order through telecom operators.
From Thursday onwards, mobile users in the country can send a maximum to 20 SMS in one go and more than 25 KB of data during the ban period.
The ban came into force after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that spreading of rumours by miscreants had led to people belonging to the north east fleeing from Bangalore, Pune and some other parts of the country.
Noting that the guilty should be brought to book, the Prime Minister had said that at stake was not just unity and integrity of the country, but also communal harmony.
“Any miscreant fanning rumours should be brought to book,” he said.
Keywords: SMS curb, northeasterners exodus, Ministry of Communication
i have tried to send more than 5 sms but from the 6th sms message not delivaring.i'm bsnl subscriber and customer care told me that they don't have any information about this.
Its funny how the transfer of such vital information (sarcasm intended)
gets checked only by curbing SMSs. As if we say, "its very important
that I tell everyone about this but only till it costs me 1 paisa."
From this I understand that we are nothing more than not-so-busy people,
SMSing away to glory without the faintest idea of what we do. For more
information check the social networking sites where every picture begs
you to "plz share" in the name of your religion and region and what-not.
I've been trying to get hold of these regulations and instructions from
the regulatory bodies. All the media reports suggest that the
regulations are for restriction on "not more than 5 at a time". How the
mobile companies have interpreted this as "not more than 5 a day"
intrigues me.
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