can a person have 2 pan cards

No, a person cannot have two Permanent Account Number (PAN) cards. Under Section 139A of the Income Tax Act, 1961, holding or using more than one PAN is strictly illegal in India. The law mandates only one unique PAN per individual or entity for tracking financial transactions. If a person is found to possess a duplicate PAN, the Income Tax Department can impose a penalty of ₹10,000 under Section 272B. If you have inadvertently received two PANs, you must immediately surrender the extra one to ensure compliance and avoid penalties.