**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to Unstarred Question No. 1787 in Lok Sabha, answered on December 10th, 2025, regarding the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025, notified on October 22nd, 2025. It outlines measures taken by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to curb telecom fraud, ensure network security, and promote awareness. The rules are in force from October 22nd, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025:**
* Notified by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on October 22nd, 2025.
* Aimed at curbing telecom fraud and ensuring network security.
* **SIM/IMEI Blocking and Flagging:**
* While provisions for reverification and disconnection existed prior, DoT developed the Sanchar Saathi initiative to help with fraud reporting, blocking lost/stolen devices, checking connections, and reporting unauthorized connections.
* 1.44 crore mobile connections disconnected after failing reverification based on citizen reports through the Sanchar Saathi initiative.
* The DoT's ASTR tool disconnected over 86 lakh connections acquired via forged documents after failed reverification.
* **Awareness and Support:**
* The DoT is promoting digital safety through the Sanchar Saathi initiative, including multilingual news articles, digital screens, TV/radio messages, local activities, SMS campaigns, and social media content.
* Sanchar Mitras (student volunteers) are educating citizens on digital safety and using the Sanchar Saathi portal/app.
* **Coordination and Implementation:**
* The DoT is coordinating with stakeholders for the implementation of the Rules.
* **Effective Date:**
* The rules are in force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette i.e. October 22nd, 2025.
**Impact Analysis**
**Citizens:**
* **Impact:** Enhanced telecom security, reduced fraud, and increased awareness of digital safety.
* **Action Required:** Utilize Sanchar Saathi initiative to report fraud, unauthorized connections, and block lost/stolen mobile devices.
**Telecom Operators and Service Providers:**
* **Impact:** Stricter compliance requirements for network security and customer verification.
* **Action Required:** Participate in DoT’s initiatives, implement fraud prevention measures, and comply with Telecom Cyber Security Amendment Rules, 2025.
**State Administrations:**
* **Impact:** Increased coordination with DoT for the implementation of telecom security measures.
* **Action Required:** Coordinate with the DoT and telecom service providers to ensure effective rollout of the validation platform and compliance audits.
**Tribal Regions:**
* **Impact:** Focused awareness programs and increased support for safe telecom services.
* **Action Required:** Participate in awareness programs conducted by Sanchar Mitras to benefit from safe telecom services.
Key Entities Referenced
Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025: Rules imposing stricter norms to curb telecom fraud and ensure network security.
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The department responsible for notifying and implementing the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025.
Sanchar Saathi: Citizen-centric initiative by DoT to help prevent telecom-related fraud through awareness campaigns and tools.
Maharashtra: A state specifically mentioned in the context of receiving awareness, infrastructure, and enforcement support in tribal districts.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1787
ANSWERED ON 10TH DECEMBER, 2025
AWARENESS, INFRASTRUCTURE AND ENFORCEMENT SUPPORT
1787. ADV GOWAAL KAGADA PADAVI:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has issued the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber security)
Amendment Rules, 2025 (G.S.R. 771(E)) on 22 October 2025, imposing stricter norms to curb
telecom fraud and ensure network security and if so, the details thereof;
(b) the number of SIM cards, IMEIs and network identifiers blocked or flagged under the new
rules till date;
(c) the manner in which the Government proposes to ensure that remote/tribal districts (such as
in Maharashtra) receive awareness, infrastructure and enforcement support to benefit from safe
telecom services;
(d) whether the Government has allocated special grants or imparted training for telecom-
operators and local enforcement in tribal regions to handle cyber risks in communication networks
and if so, the details thereof;
(e) the role of the Ministry in coordinating with State administrations and telecom service
providers to ensure effective roll-out of the validation platform and compliance audits; and
(f) the timeline by which the Government expects full-scale implementation of the rules across
all service providers including reporting State-wise results for Maharashtra's tribal-dominated
habitations?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) Yes, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has notified the Telecommunications
(Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025 on 22nd October 2025.
(b) The provisions for reverification and disconnection of numbers existed prior to these rules
and were governed by licensing conditions and instructions issued thereof. DoT has developed a
citizen centric initiative Sanchar Saathi which provides facilities including suspected fraud reporting,
block your lost/ stolen mobile handset, check mobile connections in your name & report unauthorized
ones and check genuineness of mobile handset. Based on report of citizens as ‘Not My Number’,
1.44 crore mobile connections have been disconnected after failing reverification. Further, DoT
through its ASTR tool detects mobile connections that were acquired through forged documents and
has disconnected more than 86 lakhs such connections after they failed reverification.
1(c) & (d) DoT is promoting digital safety and preventing telecom-related fraud through
widespread awareness campaigns under Sanchar Saathi. Its outreach includes multilingual news
articles and ads, digital screens and hoardings in public spaces, TV and radio messages, local-level
activities by DoT field units, SMS campaigns with Telecom Service Providers, and extensive social
media content such as explainer videos and infographics. Sanchar Mitras, who are student volunteers,
have been engaged to educate citizens about digital safety, fraud prevention, and the use of the
Sanchar Saathi portal and app. Their involvement helps deepen awareness at the grassroots level,
especially through communication in local languages.
(e) DoT is undertaking necessary coordination with the relevant stakeholders for the
implementation of the Rules.
(f) The Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025 are in force
from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette i.e. 22nd October 2025.
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