Foreign visitors to India using electronic tourist visas will soon get free SIM cards on their arrival in the country, government officials say.
The move is aimed at aimed at attracting more tourists and raising India's image as a global tourist destination.
It also aims to address security concerns, helping tourists access telecom services to make calls in times of distress, a tourism ministry official said.
"The scheme was recently approved by the home ministry. A few more final clearances are awaited, following which we hope to implement the scheme shortly."
Foreign tourists face problems in procuring SIM cards in India with service providers requiring paperwork and a list of documents, making them dependent on phone booths.