**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Starred Question No. 141 on July 30, 2025, the Ministry of Communications addressed concerns regarding mobile connections used in cybercrimes. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is actively working to prevent the misuse of telecom resources for cyber fraud. Based on reports from the National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP) of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), the DoT has disconnected 357,000 mobile numbers implicated in cyber fraud, with the highest number of such connections originating from Rajasthan, Bihar, and West Bengal. Furthermore, the DoT has developed an indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analytic tool, ASTR, to identify suspected mobile connections obtained by a single individual under different identities. This tool has led to the disconnection of over 8.2 million connections after reverification failures.
To strengthen the Know Your Customer (KYC) process for issuing SIM cards, the DoT has implemented a robust framework. Guidelines mandate telecom licensees to register their Point of Sale (PoS) locations, which enroll customers and issue SIMs, through biometric verification and physical verification of the PoS's business address and local residence. These guidelines also include provisions for maintaining an online supply chain management system for SIM cards, as well as penal actions for violations, including termination of agreements and blacklisting of PoS locations across all Telecom Service Providers (TSPs). Moreover, the DoT has amended existing KYC instructions to introduce a business connections framework that mandates KYC verification for each end-user before activation. A strengthened KYC process for SIM swap/replacement has also been introduced. The Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region responsible for this policy is Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): A department under the Ministry of Communications, Government of India, responsible for telecom policy and regulation.
Ministry of Communications: A ministry of the Government of India.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA: Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region.
National Cyber Crime Reporting Portal (NCRP): A portal under the Ministry of Home Affairs for reporting cyber crimes.
Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA): A ministry of the Government of India.
Rajasthan: A state in India where a high number of mobile connections used in cybercrimes were disconnected.
Bihar: A state in India where a high number of mobile connections used in cybercrimes were disconnected.
West Bengal: A state in India where a high number of mobile connections used in cybercrimes were disconnected.
Artificial Intelligence (AI): Technology used by DoT to identify suspected mobile connections.
ASTR: An indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analytic tool developed by DoT to identify suspected mobile connections.
Know Your Customer (KYC): A framework for verifying the identity of customers, used in the context of issuing SIM cards.
Telecom Service Providers (TSPs): Providers of telecommunication services.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 141
ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2025
MOBILE CONNECTIONS USED IN CYBER CRIMES
†*141. SHRI BUNTY VIVEK SAHU:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATION be pleased to state:
(a) the details of number of mobile connections obtained through forged documents or used in
cyber crimes along with locations where maximum number of such crimes are reportedly taking
place; and
(b) whether the Government has strengthened or plans to strengthen the KYC process for issuing
SIM cards and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS AND DEVELOPMENT OF NORTH EASTERN
REGION
(SHRI JYOTIRADITYA M. SCINDIA)
(a) & (b) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
1STATEMENT TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE OF LOK SABHA IN RESPECT OF PARTS
(a) & (b) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.141 FOR 30TH JULY, 2025
REGARDING “MOBILE CONNECTIONS USED IN CYBER CRIMES.”
(a) Department of Telecommunications (DoT) undertakes efforts to prevent misuse of telecom
resources for cyber frauds. Based on cyber fraud cases reported on National Cyber Crime Reporting
Portal (NCRP) of Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), DoT has disconnected 3.57 lakh mobile
numbers of which highest number of mobile connections are from Rajasthan, Bihar and West Bengal.
Further, DoT has developed an indigenous Artificial Intelligence (AI) and big data analytic tool
ASTR to identify suspected mobile connections taken by same person in different names. More than
82 lakhs such connections have been disconnected after failing reverification process.
(b) DoT has put in place a robust Know Your Customer (KYC) framework for issuing mobile
connections to subscribers. DoT has issued guidelines which mandates telecom licensees to register
their Point of Sale (PoS), who enroll customers and issue SIMs on behalf of the licensees, through
biometric verification, physical verification of address of place of business & local residence of PoS.
The guidelines also has provisions for maintaining an online supply chain management of SIM cards,
penal action for violation including termination of agreement and blacklisting of PoS across all
Telecom Service Providers (TSPs).
Further, the DoT has also amended existing KYC instructions and introduced business
connections framework where KYC of each end-user is made mandatory before activation. In
addition, a robust KYC process for SIM Swap / replacement has also been introduced.
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