New Delhi, August 28 (TNA) The Department of Telecommunications’ Sanchar Saathi platform has recovered more than 75,000 lost and stolen mobile handsets in a single month across India, marking a major milestone in the government’s digital device-tracking effort. The surge in recoveries reflects the wider use of the platform by citizens as well as tighter coordination between telecom operators, the Department of Telecommunications and police authorities across States and Union Territories.
Sanchar Saathi works through its Central Equipment Identity Register, or CEIR, which allows a lost or stolen handset to be blocked across Indian telecom networks once reported. The blocking process helps prevent misuse of the device, while automated traceability alerts are generated if the handset is used again with any SIM card, enabling police to follow up more quickly.
The platform’s recovery system has also been strengthened with new features designed to improve the chances of return. Citizens now receive the name of the police station linked to the traceability report through SMS, email and the portal or mobile app, while police authorities are given SIM-insertion details and alternate contact information to help locate the device and its owner. Users are also advised to factory reset recovered handsets as a precaution against any suspected malware.
Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia has hailed the Sanchar Saathi initiative for helping recover more than 75,000 lost and stolen mobile handsets in a single month across the country for the first time since its launch.According to the Department of Telecommunications, handset recoveries rose 201% between April 2025 and July 2026, indicating a sharp improvement in the efficiency of the recovery ecosystem. Officials attribute the rise to continuous feedback from stakeholders, integrated automated workflows and real-time device traceability supported by DoT field units, telecom service providers and police personnel.
For users, the process begins with a complaint and a request to block the device through the Sanchar Saathi portal or app, or through the CEIR system. The service also allows users to later unblock a recovered handset using the request ID, which is useful when the phone is returned to the rightful owner.
Sanchar Saathi is also used for other mobile-security services, including checking the authenticity of a handset and identifying mobile connections issued in a person’s name. The initiative has become a key tool in consumer protection and law-enforcement support, especially in cases of theft and device loss.