The Department of Telecommunications has announced a new awards scheme to recognize states, union territories, police districts and police stations that excel at recovering lost and stolen mobile handsets. The awards will be presented at national, zonal and state-level events, with performance measured by the number of handsets successfully recovered and the accuracy of recoveries against traces generated through the Sanchar Saathi portal.
This initiative aims to encourage coordination between the Department of Telecommunications, police authorities and telecom operators in recovering mobile devices and returning them to owners. The scheme also seeks to promote best practices in handset recovery across different jurisdictions and improve outcomes for citizens nationwide.
Key facts
- Awards will be based on handsets recovered and accuracy rates (recoveries against traces generated)
- Evaluation methodology and assessment period to be finalized by DoT
- Performance data is publicly available on Sanchar Saathi portal dashboard
- Awards to be presented at upcoming National, Zonal and State level events of DoT
- Sanchar Saathi portal uses Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) facility for blocking and tracing handsets
How Sanchar Saathi works
Sanchar Saathi is a citizen-focused platform launched by the Department of Telecommunications to help people report and track lost or stolen mobile handsets. When a subscriber reports a handset as lost or stolen, the portal enables blocking across all telecom networks in India, preventing the device from being used. If the handset is later detected on a network, traceability information is generated and sent to police authorities along with an alert to the citizen via SMS and email.
The system relies on the Central Equipment Identity Register, which maintains records of device identities across telecom networks. Police can use the traceability information to locate and recover devices, working with telecom service providers to pinpoint where the handset is active.
Performance measurement
The awards will recognize both the scale and quality of recovery efforts. Performance will be assessed using two key metrics: the total number of handsets recovered by each state, union territory, police district or police station, and the accuracy rate, calculated as the number of handsets successfully recovered against the number of traces generated by the system.
By using these measurable parameters, the scheme aims to incentivize both high recovery volumes and reliable, accurate recovery work. The detailed methodology for evaluation and the specific time period over which performance will be assessed will be finalized by the Department of Telecommunications.
Beyond handset recovery
Sanchar Saathi offers several other services on a single platform to protect citizens from telecom-related fraud and misuse. Users can report suspected spam calls and messages through a feature called Chakshu, including fake KYC alerts, impersonation attempts and fraudulent investment or job offers. The portal also allows citizens to check all mobile connections registered in their name and report unauthorised connections.
Additional services include verification of handset authenticity through IMEI number lookup before purchasing a phone, reporting of international calls disguised with Indian numbers, and verification of genuine contact details for banks and financial institutions. The platform also provides awareness materials on current fraud trends, including fake loan apps, investment scams and fraudulent traffic challans.
What this means for you
If your mobile handset is lost or stolen, you can report it immediately on the Sanchar Saathi portal or mobile app to block it across all Indian telecom networks. This prevents others from using your device and enables police to trace and recover it. Police departments that perform well under this new awards scheme may become more responsive and efficient in handling lost handset cases.
The awards scheme also signals the government’s emphasis on mobile security and its commitment to supporting law-enforcement agencies in this area. As police and state authorities compete for recognition, citizens may see improved coordination between police and telecom operators in their regions.
Accessing Sanchar Saathi
Citizens can access Sanchar Saathi through the website www.sancharsaathi.gov.in or download the mobile app for Android and iOS devices. The platform consolidates multiple citizen services related to telecom security and fraud prevention in one location.