New Delhi: The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced a major milestone in its flagship digital safety program, Sanchar Saathi, with over six lakh lost and stolen mobile handsets successfully recovered since the launch of the “Block Your Lost/Stolen Mobile Handset” facility.
The AI-powered platform, launched in May 2023, integrates DoT, telecom service providers (TSPs) and state and Union Territory police in real time, enabling citizens to report, block, trace, or unblock lost or stolen mobile devices across all Indian telecom networks.
Once a lost handset is reported via Sanchar Saathi, it is immediately blocked nationwide to prevent misuse. If any SIM is inserted into the device, the system automatically generates a trace alert, notifying both the citizen and the police station where the complaint was filed. SMS alerts provide the contact details of the relevant police station to facilitate quick recovery.
Field units of DoT work closely with law enforcement through capacity-building programs, ensuring traced devices are efficiently returned to their rightful owners.
Monthly recoveries have steadily increased, rising from 28,115 in January 2025 to 45,243 in August 2025, a 61 per cent jump over eight months.
Officials note that surpassing six lakh recoveries reflects not just numbers, but the restoration of digital security for hundreds of thousands of Indian households, preventing fraud and safeguarding communication.
Sanchar Saathi has become India’s most comprehensive citizen-centric digital safety platform, registering over 19 crore website visits and more than 90 lakh app downloads.
The platform offers multiple tools, including Chakshu for reporting suspected fraud, Know Your Mobile Connections to verify active connections, Device Authenticity Verification via IMEI checks, reporting suspicious international calls and accessing verified contact details of banks and financial institutions. The app is available in Hindi, English and 21 regional languages to ensure accessibility across India.
DoT has urged citizens to immediately report lost or stolen devices via the Sanchar Saathi app or portal, use the platform’s comprehensive safety features and stay informed with real-time trends available on the dashboard. The initiative continues to reinforce trust in India’s digital ecosystem while enhancing citizen security.
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