Date: 2026-05-02Category: Press ReleaseState: Union GovernmentCountry: India
Cell Broadcast System (CBS) Launched by Union Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia; System developed indigenously under the guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah
**Executive Summary**
On May 2, 2026, Union Minister Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the indigenous Cell Broadcast System (CBS) to transition India’s disaster management from a reactive to a proactive framework. Developed by C-DOT in collaboration with the NDMA and MHA, the system enables near real-time, geo-targeted emergency alerts to be sent to mobile devices nationwide. A successful nationwide test was conducted during the launch to demonstrate the system's efficiency in disseminating critical public safety information.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Technology and Development**
* Developed indigenously by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) under the guidance of the Union Home Minister.
* Integrated with the CAP-based SACHET platform to ensure standardized and rapid alert dissemination.
* Compatible across 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G networks to ensure "last-mile" reach in both urban and rural areas.
* **System Capabilities and Features**
* Provides precise geo-targeting, allowing alerts to be sent to specific cell towers or clusters.
* Delivers messages in near real-time (within seconds) and remains unaffected by network congestion.
* Alerts appear as mandatory pop-up notifications accompanied by a distinct loud tone and text-to-speech features.
* Supports multilingual alerts that cannot be disabled by users, ensuring universal reach, including for roaming populations.
* **Implementation and Performance**
* Successfully completed Pan-India trials and training across all States and Union Territories.
* Proven effective during disasters in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Uttarakhand, and currently utilized for the Char Dham Yatra.
* The technology has been demonstrated internationally in countries such as Mauritius, Cambodia, El Salvador, and Sri Lanka.
* **Additional Disclosures**
* Release of the official "Guidelines and Handbook on Disaster Management."
* Conferral of the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar (SCBAPP) to individuals and organizations for service in disaster management.
**Impact Analysis**
**General Public**
**Impact**
Citizens and travelers receive instantaneous, non-ignorable, and multilingual warnings regarding life-threatening situations like flash floods or gas leaks. This reduces panic and provides critical time for protective action.
**Action Required**
Users should attend to the distinctive alert tones and follow the specific instructions delivered in the pop-up messages on their handsets.
**Disaster Management Authorities (NDMA/MHA/State Authorities)**
**Impact**
Authorities now possess a reliable, scalable, and standardized tool for mass communication that overcomes the delays and limitations of traditional SMS-based systems.
**Action Required**
Authorities must utilize the CBS via the SACHET platform for emergency broadcasts and adhere to the newly released Guidelines and Handbook on Disaster Management.
**Telecommunications and Technical Bodies (DoT/C-DOT)**
**Impact**
The sector has successfully established a globally benchmarked, indigenous safety infrastructure that strengthens public trust and ensures uninterrupted communication during crises.
**Action Required**
Continuous monitoring of system reliability across all network generations and further collaboration for international "Early Warnings for All" initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
Cell Broadcast System (CBS): An indigenous, telecom-enabled public warning system launched to provide instant, geo-targeted emergency alerts to mobile devices during disasters.
Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT): The research and development center under the Department of Telecommunications responsible for the indigenous development of the Cell Broadcast technology.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA): The primary agency collaborating on the system's implementation and the release of new disaster management guidelines.
SACHET platform: A Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) based platform integrated with CBS to enable standardized and rapid dissemination of public safety alerts.
Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar (SCBAPP): An award recognized in the policy event to honor individuals and organizations for excellence in the field of disaster management.
Ministry of Communications
Cell Broadcast System (CBS) Launched by Union
Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya
Scindia; System developed indigenously under
the guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit
Shah
From Reactive to Proactive: India Strengthens Disaster
Response with Cell Broadcast System
Instant Alerts, Zero Delay: India Launches Nationwide Cell
Broadcast System for Public Safety
Posted On: 02 MAY 2026 4:56PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia today launched the Cell Broadcast System
(CBS), an indigenous technology developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) under
the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management
Authority (NDMA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under the guidance of Union Home
Minister Shri Amit Shah. This initiative marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s emergency
communication systems and enhancing public safety infrastructure.Distinguished dignitaries present on the dais included Shri Govind Mohan, Union Home Secretary; Shri
Amit Agrawal, Secretary (Telecom); Shri Piyush Anand, DG, NDRF; Shri Manish Bhardwaj, Secretary,
NDMA; Shri Anuj Sharma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs; and Shri Krishna Vatsa,
Member, NDMA.Speaking on this landmark achievement of DoT, Ministry of Home Affairs, NDMA and C-DoT, Uniom
Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “The launch of the Cell Broadcast System
marks a transformative step in India’s disaster management framework, reflecting our shift from a reactive
to a proactive approach in safeguarding citizens. By leveraging advanced telecom technologies, CBS
enables near real-time, geo-targeted alerts to reach millions instantly, ensuring that no individual is left
behind. This indigenous, globally benchmarked solution strengthens our preparedness, enhances response
capabilities, and reinforces our commitment to building a safer, more resilient India.”
During the event, a presentation on disaster preparedness and ongoing initiatives of NDMA was made to
the Union Minister by Shri Anuj Sharma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS) is a telecom-enabled public warning system that enables authorities to
broadcast simultaneous, geo-targeted alerts to mobile devices within a defined area. Integrated with the
CAP-based SACHET platform, it allows rapid and standardized dissemination of alerts. It overcomes the
limitations of traditional SMS-based systems, ensuring that critical information can be disseminated
quickly and efficiently to large populations within targeted areas.
As part of the launch, a nationwide test of the system was successfully conducted today, during which
emergency alert messages were broadcasted to mobile phones across the country, accompanied by a
distinctive alert tone. This demonstration marks a major milestone in ensuring timely dissemination of
alerts during disasters and emergency situations.
Recognizing the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered in the field of disaster management
in India, Shri Scindia also awarded the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar (SCBAPP) to
individuals and organizations both. Guidelines and Handbook on Disaster Management were also released
on this occasion.CBS offers precise geo-targeting capabilities, enabling alerts to be disseminated at the level of individual
cell towers or clusters, while also allowing scalability to cover larger geographic areas. Messages are
delivered in near real-time, reaching users within seconds without any queuing delays. Designed for high
reliability, the system remains unaffected by network congestion, ensuring uninterrupted communication
during critical situations. It provides universal reach by covering all mobile users within the targeted area,
including those who are roaming, and these alerts cannot be disabled by users. Additionally, alerts are
delivered as priority notifications, appearing as pop-up messages accompanied by distinct loud tones, with
message text read aloud on supported mobile handsets.
The system enables near real-time, multilingual alerts that provide critical time for protective action in
disasters such as flash floods and gas leaks. Supported across 2G to 5G networks, it ensures wide reach in
both urban and rural areas, including last-mile and roaming populations. By enabling direct, official
communication, it strengthens disaster management, drives quick response, reduces panic, and enhances
public trust and compliance.
Pan-India trials of the Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS) under the CAP-based SACHET platform have been
successfully completed, with training conducted across all States and UTs. The system has proven
effective during disasters, reaching millions across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Uttarakhand, and is now
also being used for the Char Dham Yatra. C-DoT has also successfully demonstrated it internationally in
countries such as Mauritius, Cambodia, El Salvador, and Sri Lanka, aligning with the United Nations
“Early Warnings for All” initiative.
Marking a major leap in strengthening our nation’s emergency response,
launched a nationwide mobile-based disaster communication system, the Cell
Broadcasting Solution developed under the guidance of hon’ble Home Minister
Sh @AmitShah ji, by @cdot_india in collaboration with… pic.twitter.com/hOa2IQ7
Npd
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) May 2, 2026
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