**Executive Summary**
This document summarizes the Indian government's efforts to enhance telecom network security, prevent cyberattacks, and address telecom-related fraud. It outlines various policy and technical measures implemented by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It also highlights citizen-centric initiatives like Sanchar Saathi and the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI). The document answers question number 780, set to be answered on February 4th, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Telecom Network Security Measures:**
* A system has been established to identify and block incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers, resulting in a 99% reduction.
* The Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) facilitates information sharing among stakeholders regarding telecom resource misuse.
* Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) are required to conduct annual network security audits or undergo audits following significant network configuration changes, with mandatory external audits every three years.
* Advisories have been issued to TSPs to strengthen the protection of sensitive telecom datasets (SDR, CDR, IPDR).
* Instructions have been issued on "Minimum Requirement for Security Policy of DoT Licensees," to be complied with by all licensees.
* Cross-Check Network Security Audits of TSPs/ISPs are conducted annually to ensure the security of network equipment, software, supply chains, and data management.
* The Telecom Security Operations Centre (TSOC) has been established to enhance situational awareness, monitoring, and coordination on telecom cybersecurity.
* **Financial Fraud Prevention:**
* The Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) classifies mobile numbers based on their risk of being associated with financial fraud. This empowers stakeholders to prioritize enforcement and take additional customer protection measures.
* Over 1,000 crores fraud amount prevented based on transaction decline and alert/notifications.
* **Citizen-Centric Initiatives (Sanchar Saathi):**
* Sanchar Saathi facilitates citizens to report suspected fraud, report lost/stolen mobile handsets, know mobile connections in their name, and check genuineness of mobile handsets.
* 27.96 lakh lost/ stolen mobile handsets have been traced, and 8.22 lakh handsets have been recovered.
* 2.22 crore mobile connections have been disconnected based on citizen reporting.
* 39.42 lakh mobile connections have been disconnected based on inputs from vigilant citizens.
* **Digital Safety Awareness:**
* The DoT actively promotes digital safety and fraud prevention through campaigns under Sanchar Saathi and FRI, including explainer videos, infographics, the Sanchar Mitra scheme, and multilingual outreach.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Telecom Service Providers (TSPs)**
* **Impact:** Subject to mandatory network security audits and must adhere to DoT's security policies.
* **Action Required:** Conduct annual network security audits or following significant changes, and comply with the "Minimum Requirement for Security Policy of DoT Licensees."
**Stakeholder: Citizens**
* **Impact:** Beneficiaries of initiatives like Sanchar Saathi, which allows them to report fraud, track lost/stolen devices, and manage their connections. Protection from financial fraud through FRI.
* **Action Required:** Utilize the Sanchar Saathi portal and app to report suspected fraud, lost/stolen devices, and unauthorized connections. Be aware of digital safety and fraud prevention measures.
**Stakeholder: Banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) service providers**
* **Impact:** Empowered with the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) to prioritize enforcement and take additional customer protection measures based on the risk level of mobile numbers.
* **Action Required:** Integrate the FRI into their systems to identify and address high-risk mobile numbers associated with financial fraud.
Key Entities Referenced
Department of Telecommunications (DoT): The primary department responsible for implementing the policies and measures described in the document to strengthen telecom network security and prevent cyber attacks.
Telecom Service Providers (TSPs): Entities regulated by the DoT and required to implement security measures and undergo audits as part of the government's initiatives.
Sanchar Saathi: A citizen-centric initiative by DoT to help citizens report fraud and manage their mobile connections.
Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI): A risk-based metric developed by DoT to classify mobile numbers based on their association with financial fraud.
Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP): An online secure platform developed by DoT for sharing information related to misuse of telecom resources with various stakeholders.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF COMMUNICATIONS
DEPARTMENT OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 780
TO BE ANSWERED ON 4TH FEBRUARY, 2026
SECURITY OF TELECOM NETWORK TO PREVENT CYBER ATTACKS
†780. SMT. ANITA NAGARSINGH CHOUHAN:
Will the Minister of COMMUNICATIONS be pleased to state:
(a) the policy and technical measures taken by the Government to strengthen the security of the
telecom network and to prevent cyber attacks and misuse of telecommunications infrastructure in the
country;
(b) the progress made so far in preventing cyber fraud, fake calls/messages, SIM-swap fraud and
digital financial crimes along with the outcomes thereof;
(c) whether any citizen-centric digital initiatives have been taken to ensure public safety, data
privacy and availability of service; and
(d) if so, the details of the public awareness programme, grievance redressal mechanisms and
coordination among various departments under these initiatives?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(DR. PEMMASANI CHANDRA SEKHAR)
(a) Department of Telecommunications have taken various policy and technical measures to
strengthen the security of the telecom network and to prevent cyber-attacks and misuse of
telecommunications infrastructure in the country. The notable ones are as under:
1) DoT and Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) have devised a system to identify and block
incoming international spoofed calls displaying Indian mobile numbers. The system has
resulted in almost 99% reduction in such calls.
2) DoT has developed an online secure Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) for sharing of
information related to misuse of telecom resources with different stakeholders’ central
security agencies, State/UT Police, Banks, UPI service providers, Telecom Service
Providers (TSPs) etc.
3) DoT directive requires Telecom Service Providers to audit their network or get the network
audited from security point of view once a year or as and when configuration of network
is changed significantly, from a network certification agency which is accredited to carry
out the network audit under international standards such as ISO/IEC 270011 including
Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT). An external audit of the TSPs
network is mandatory once in a period of three years.
14) DoT has issued advisory to telecom service providers to strengthen protection of sensitive
telecom datasets such as Subscriber Detail Record (SDR), Call Detail Record (CDR) and
IP Detail Record (IPDR) for the security of data at rest and transit.
5) DoT has issued instructions on “Minimum Requirement for Security Policy of DoT
Licensees” to be complied with by all licensees. Security Policy will provide direction for
establishment, implementation, maintenance and continual improvement in Security and
Security Management.
6) Cross Check Network Security Audit of TSPs/ISPs is being done annually to ensure
security of network equipment, software, supply chains and data management from
perspective of national security.
7) The Department has established a Telecom Security Operations Centre (TSOC) to
enhance situational awareness, monitoring, and coordination on telecom cyber security
matters.
(b) DoT has developed Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI), which is a risk-based metric that
classifies a mobile number to have been associated with Medium, High, or Very High risk of
financial fraud. FRI empowers stakeholders-especially banks, Non-Banking Financial Companies (
NBFCs), and Unified Payments Interface (UPI) service providers to prioritize enforcement and take
additional customer protection measures in case a mobile number has high risk. As reported by
stakeholders, total fraud amount prevented based on transaction decline and alert/notifications given
to citizens is more than ₹1,000 crores.
(c) DoT has developed Sanchar Saathi, a citizen centric initiative, which facilitates citizens to
report suspected fraud Communications, to know mobile connections in their name, to report lost/
stolen mobile handsets, to check genuineness of mobile handset etc. Outcomes of Sanchar Saathi are
as under:
a. 27.96 lakh lost/ stolen mobile handsets have been traced and 8.22 lakh lost/ stolen
mobile handsets have been recovered and returned to rightful owners by State/ UT
Police.
b. 2.22 crore mobile connections have been disconnected based on reporting by citizens
as ‘Not My Number’ or ‘Not Required’.
c. 39.42 lakh mobile connections have been disconnected based on 7.72 lakh inputs
provided by vigilant citizens related to suspected fraud communications.
(d) DoT has been actively promoting digital safety and preventing telecom-related fraud through
widespread awareness campaigns under Sanchar Saathi and FRI initiatives. Explainer videos and
infographics about these initiatives are regularly prepared and uploaded on DoT's social media
platforms for spreading awareness. DoT has also launched Sanchar Mitra scheme, through which
student volunteers have been engaged to educate citizens about digital safety, fraud prevention, and
the use of the Sanchar Saathi portal and app. Apart from above, citizen 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.
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