Has any e-visa holder received the free SIM card package at the airport yet?

I realize it's a bit early to ask but getting a SIM card is critical in my decision on whether or not to visit India (I have to have internet to work on the road).

If you haven't heard, the government announced plans to give e-visa holders a free SIM card and tourist package. This was announced last year. It was supposed to roll out in the fall, never did, and now there are articles from last week saying it would debut in Delhi Airport this week. It's supposed to also be introduced in other airports in a few weeks.

So I'm just wondering if anyone has or if anyone who has an e-visa and is traveling to the major airports this month or next month could report back. As I understand it e-visa holders (30 days) can face hassle or be downright rejected if they try and buy a SIM card at a shop, kiosk, what-have-you since I've read that it's "illegal."

Never heard of this, and it completely goes against the "everyone is a terrorist" and "We wouldn't be paranoid if everyone wasn't against us" mindset and policies of the Indian govt.

That said, Reliance Jio is, for the most part, free until abt March.

Hey Pirate,

Can you tell me a little bit more about Reliance Jio? I've heard of them that they're trying to shake up the telecom business but how would I, a tourist with a 30-day visa visiting for only 2 weeks, be able to get a hold of their services? If it's free that's even better.

Here's an article about the free SIM card package: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/foreign-tourists-to-get-sim-cards-at-12-airports/articleshow/56194589.cms

I think the idea is that because by applying for the e-visa you've already forked over a ton of personal information, the SIM card that they give is basically another way for the government to track you. Which doesn't sound great but if I go to India I really need the internet access on-the-go or I just can't make the trip.

The "welcome kit" first appeared in the press 12 months ago:

http://trak.in/tags/business/2016/01/08/tourism-push-gift-kit-with-sim-card-tourists/

Then in August it was being touted for September, after the Home Ministry gave its blessing.

http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/sim-card-on-arrival-for-tourists-on-e-visa-likely-by-september-end-1450459

Given the glacial speed India normally operates at ...

Yes, lifesupport I'm aware of that as I mentioned above. But I was talking specifically about a new article that appeared a few days ago. I linked it in the previous post but I'll link it again:

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/foreign-tourists-to-get-sim-cards-at-12-airports/articleshow/56194589.cms

Given what they pulled last year with the announcement and then the delay and then the no-show, I'm skeptical but can't help but hope that maybe it's getting rolled out this week. I put this out here in hopes of hearing back from anyone flying into Delhi this week on an e-visa.

So I'm just wondering if anyone has or if anyone who has an e-visa and is traveling to the major airports this month or next month could report back. As I understand it e-visa holders (30 days) can face hassle or be downright rejected if they try and buy a SIM card at a shop, kiosk, what-have-you since I've read that it's "illegal."

More than enough evidence that people on the eTV have secured a SIM Card.

http://www.indiamike.com/india/for-citizens-of-other-countries-visa-and-pio-oci-questions-f9/beware-no-sim-card-for-e-visa-holders-t240528/3/#post1941680

http://www.indiamike.com/india/for-citizens-of-other-countries-visa-and-pio-oci-questions-f9/beware-no-sim-card-for-e-visa-holders-t240528/2/#post1922245

I read that thread too before posting here. But I also read a bunch of other posts on the Internet where people failed. So it appears that's possible but it depends on the circumstance, who you're talking to, etc.

Until I actually see the welcome kit listed in a release from the Press Information Bureau, it may as well not exist.

You could send a Tweet to BSNL.

When do you need to make a decision?

In the next two weeks. Have my finger crossed and will be tweeting / emailing the airports and companies to see if anything turns up. Hoping someone who gets into the airport this week or next sees this thread too.

Interesting that I can pretty much bet that that article wasn't in the Ahmedabad print edition of TOI that I read daily (and I rarely look at the online version).

But as I said:

"There were some security concerns but after consultations we have taken the required the steps and decided to implement the programme. Mandatory checks have already been done with the documentation required for e-visas," an MHA official said.

So, they've finally done something nearly right for tourists. For a while after the eVisa started, you weren't able to get a sim card.

Now we're waiting on them to change eVisa to 60 days as they promised a short while ago.

I understand that its only for the EVOA holders not for the general tourist visa holders and was only just rolled out. Its been pretty well reported and discussed. Now to see if it actually works out. What happened to that Clean India scheme.?.

I sent you a PM

What happened to that Clean India scheme.?.

Can't say for "there", but the Ahmedabad Management Association holds seminars on Swaach Bharat for Entrepreneurs. Like my boss used to tell me - Nothing happens til something gets sold.

Hi, I just arrived in Delhi today on an E-Visa, and did NOT receive a SIM. I asked at an airTel kiosk and they told me I would get one in town. I went to a store in town and did not get anybody to talk to because I apparently needed a cell number already.

So that sucks.

So much easier to say you're going to do something than to actually do it. Because the millions who HEARD that they were going to do it far outweighs the couple hundred thousand tourists.

I arrived at BOM airport yesterday with an eVisa and the welcome kit with a SIM does not exist here. In fact, I could not find any other SIM option in the airport.

As I alluded to in #14.

Well, I will fly into New Delhi later this week and we'll see if this SIM exists there.

One poster did recently, but she didn't say which airport was her arrival port.

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