**Summary:**
On July 29, 2025, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya M. Scindia chaired a stakeholders meeting to bolster the "Sanchar Saathi" initiative, aimed at combating telecom-related cyber fraud through increased awareness, preventive measures, and citizen reporting. The initiative integrates tools like CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register), DIP (Digital Intelligence Platform), AI-based ASTR (detecting connections on fake documents), and FRI (Financial Fraud Risk Indicator).
Key achievements include the disconnection of over 82 lakh fake mobile connections, blocking of over 35 lakh lost/stolen phones, and a 97% reduction in spoofed international calls (1.35 crore prevented within 24 hours of implementation). The Sanchar Saathi portal has recorded 16 crore visits, averaging 2 lakh daily users. Through ASTR, citizen reports, and stakeholder inputs, over 4.7 crore mobile connections have been disconnected, 5.1 lakh mobile handsets blocked, 24.46 lakh WhatsApp accounts disengaged, and 20,000 bulk SMS senders blacklisted. The CEIR system has blocked 35.49 lakh lost/stolen devices, traced 21.57 lakh, and recovered 5.19 lakh.
The Sanchar Saathi initiative has onboarded 620 organizations, including central agencies, state police forces, telecom service providers (TSPs), and GSTN. The Sanchar Saathi mobile application, originally launched in January 2025, has been released in Hindi and 21 regional languages, and has over 46 lakh downloads, enabling users to report suspicious communications, block/trace lost/stolen phones, and check for unauthorized mobile connections on Android and iOS.
The meeting included stakeholders from law enforcement, telecom service providers, financial institutions, and civil society, including representatives from Telangana Cyber Security Bureau, Digital Intelligence Unit, I4C, RBI, PhonePe, and PNB, along with citizens who shared positive experiences regarding handset retrieval. Citizen cyber warrior Sujit Beck shared his work in disconnecting fraudulent mobile connections through Sanchar Saathi.
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Key Entities Referenced
Jyotiraditya M. Scindia: Union Minister for Communications, Government of India.
Sanchar Saathi: A citizen-centric digital safety initiative by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, aimed at combating telecom-related cyber frauds.
Department of Telecommunications: The department under the Ministry of Communications responsible for telecommunications policy and regulation in India.
Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR): A system under Sanchar Saathi used to block stolen or lost mobile phones.
Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP): An advanced tool integrated within the 'Sanchar Saathi' initiative for tackling cyber fraud.
Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI): A tool integrated with Sanchar Saathi to detect and prevent potential financial frauds.
Telangana Cyber Security Bureau: A law enforcement agency in Telangana, India, focused on cybersecurity.
Reserve Bank of India (RBI): The central bank of India.
Ministry of Communications
Union Minister Scindia Chairs Sanchar Saathi
Stakeholders Meet to Strengthen Action Against
Telecom Cyber Frauds
Jyotiraditya Scindia Announces Launch of Sanchar
Saathi Mobile App in Hindi and 21 Regional
Languages
Posted On: 29 JUL 2025 4:22PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Communications, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, chaired a stakeholders meeting
today along with Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Dr. Neeraj Mittal under the
Sanchar Saathi initiative to ideate and further strengthen efforts against telecom-related cyber
frauds, in light of the urgent need for greater awareness, implementing preventive measures, and
encouraging Jan-bhagidari through citizen reporting.
This citizen-centric digital safety initiative 'Sanchar Saathi' integrates advanced tools such as CEIR
(Central Equipment Identity Register) to block stolen or lost phones, DIP (Digital Intelligence
Platform), AI-based systems like ASTR (to detect connections taken on fake documents), and FRI
(Financial Fraud Risk Indicator) to detect & prevent potential frauds. It has recorded remarkable
progress in securing India’s telecom ecosystem.
So far, over 82 lakh fake mobile connections have been disconnected, and more than 35 lakh lost
or stolen phones have been blocked. The initiative has also successfully prevented 1.35 crore
spoofed international calls within just 24 hours of launching this system. System has affected 97%
reduction in such calls.
The Sanchar Saathi portal has seen massive public engagement, with 16 crore visits and an
average of 2 lakh users every day. Through the AI-powered ASTR tool, citizen reports, and
stakeholder inputs, over 4.7 crore mobile connections have been disconnected. The initiative has
also led to the blocking of 5.1 lakh mobile handsets, disengagement of 24.46 lakh WhatsApp
accounts, and blacklisting of 20,000 bulk SMS senders involved in fraudulent activities.
Under the CEIR system of Sanchar Saathi, 35.49 lakh lost or stolen devices have been blocked,
21.57 lakh traced, and 5.19 lakh recovered. Today, Sanchar Saathi has onboarded 620
organisations, including central agencies, state police forces, telecom service providers (TSPs), andGSTN, forming a strong collaborative network to counter telecom fraud and cyber threats across the
country.
Sanchar Saathi App Launched in Hindi and 21 Regional Languages
In a major step towards increasing accessibility, the Union Minister launched the Sanchar Saathi mobile
application in Hindi and 21 regional languages, ensuring its reach across diverse regions. Originally
introduced in January 2025, the app allows users to report suspicious communications, block or trace
lost/stolen phones, and check for unauthorized mobile connections. It is now available on both Android and
iOS platforms, empowering citizens across India with multilingual digital safety tools. The App has seen more
than 46 lakh downloads.
Stakeholders and Citizens Share Impactful ExperiencesThe interaction featured key stakeholders from law enforcement, telecom service providers, financial
institutions, and civil society. Participants included Shikha Goel, (Head-Telangana Cyber Security Bureau),
Sanjeev Kumar Sharma (DDG – Digital Intelligence Unit), Rajesh Kumar (CEO I4C), Pushpamitra Sahu
(CGM, RBI) Shivnath Thukral (Head of Public Policy, PhonePe), M. Paramasivam (ED, PNB) web
developers and technical teams of the Sanchar Saathi initiatives, as well as senior officials from C-DOT, RPF
and the Department of Telecommunications.
Citizens from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh also shared their experiences with the Sanchar Saathi
initiatives, expressing appreciation for its growing efficiency and real-time redressal capabilities.
They recounted how they were able to retrieve their stolen handsets swiftly using the platform. Sujit
Beck, a citizen cyber warrior, shared how he has helped disconnection of thousands of fraudulent
mobile connections through Sanchar Saathi and helped people, especially the elderly, through
awareness initiatives and swift action against cyber fraud.
Sanchar Saathi continues to evolve as a powerful, inclusive platform that empowers citizens to stay
safe from telecom fraud and contributes significantly to India’s cyber resilience. The expansion of
the app into regional languages marks a significant step toward ensuring digital safety for all.
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(Release ID: 2149729)