New Delhi: Union Minister for Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, chaired a high-level stakeholders’ meeting in New Delhi today under the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ initiative. Joined by Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Dr. Neeraj Mittal, the meeting focused on strengthening strategies against telecom-related cyber frauds, enhancing public awareness, and promoting Jan-bhagidari (public participation) in cyber safety efforts.
Sanchar Saathi: A Technologically Robust Cyber Safety Framework
‘Sanchar Saathi’ is a flagship initiative designed to secure India’s telecom ecosystem. It brings together advanced digital tools, including:
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CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register) – to block stolen or lost phones
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DIP (Digital Intelligence Platform) – to aggregate intelligence
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ASTR (AI System to Track Fraud Connections) – detects SIMs activated with fake documents
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FRI (Financial Fraud Risk Indicator) – prevents financial telecom frauds
The initiative has so far disconnected over 82 lakh fake mobile connections, blocked 35 lakh stolen/lost devices, and prevented 1.35 crore spoofed international calls within just 24 hours of activating its detection mechanism. These measures have led to a 97% reduction in such spoofed calls.
Public Engagement and System Impact
The Sanchar Saathi portal has recorded 16 crore visits and serves an average of 2 lakh users daily. With citizen reports, AI-based analytics, and collaboration from telecom service providers, the system has enabled:
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Disconnection of 4.7 crore suspicious mobile connections
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Blocking of 5.1 lakh mobile handsets
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Disengagement of 24.46 lakh WhatsApp accounts
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Blacklisting of 20,000 fraudulent bulk SMS senders
Under CEIR, 35.49 lakh lost/stolen devices have been blocked, with 21.57 lakh traced and 5.19 lakh recovered.
Launch of Sanchar Saathi App in Hindi and 21 Regional Languages
To improve accessibility, Shri Scindia launched the Sanchar Saathi mobile application in Hindi and 21 regional languages, further expanding its citizen-centric reach. Initially introduced in January 2025, the app:
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Enables reporting of suspicious calls or messages
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Allows tracing and blocking of lost or stolen phones
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Helps verify unauthorized mobile connections
The app is now available on both Android and iOS platforms and has already seen over 46 lakh downloads, empowering citizens with multilingual digital safety tools.
Stakeholder Interaction and Citizen Testimonials
The meeting featured inputs from law enforcement agencies, telecom companies, fintech firms, and civil society members. Notable participants included:
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Shikha Goel, Telangana Cyber Security Bureau
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Rajesh Kumar, CEO, I4C
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Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, DDG – Digital Intelligence Unit
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Pushpamitra Sahu, CGM, RBI
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Shivnath Thukral, Head of Public Policy, PhonePe
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M. Paramasivam, Executive Director, PNB
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Senior officials from C-DOT, RPF, and DoT
Citizens from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh shared real-life success stories, including retrieval of stolen phones and prevention of frauds, thanks to Sanchar Saathi. Cyber volunteer Sujit Beck was commended for his contribution in helping disconnect thousands of fraudulent mobile connections and educating elderly citizens on cyber safety.
Towards a Safer Digital Future
Sanchar Saathi is rapidly evolving as a comprehensive and inclusive digital safety platform. Its collaborative framework, powered by advanced technology and public participation, is significantly enhancing India’s cyber resilience. The latest expansion into regional languages reinforces the Government’s commitment to Digital India and ensuring secure communication for all citizens.
Source: PIB
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