The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has achieved a major milestone through its citizen-centric initiative, Sanchar Saathi. The platform has helped recover more than 75,000 lost or stolen mobile handsets in a single month across India for the first time since its launch.
Union Minister for Communications Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia welcomed the achievement. He highlighted the growing role of technology in helping citizens protect and recover their mobile devices.
Importantly, the milestone reflects rising public trust in Sanchar Saathi. At the same time, it shows how digital tools can support citizens and strengthen coordination between government agencies, telecom service providers and police departments.
Stronger System, Faster Recoveries
The Department of Telecommunications has continued to improve the Sanchar Saathi system based on feedback from stakeholders. As a result, these changes have helped increase the number of mobile handsets traced and recovered.
For instance, one key improvement is the addition of police station details in traceability reports. Citizens can now receive this information through SMS and email. In addition, the details are available on the Sanchar Saathi portal and mobile app.
The system also provides police authorities with details of SIM cards inserted into reported handsets. In particular, these details can include an alternate mobile number. Therefore, police teams can use this information to trace devices and speed up the recovery process.
Another important measure focuses on device safety. Citizens receive an SMS advising them to carry out a factory reset after recovering their mobile handset. This step, in turn, can help protect the device from suspected malware or other security risks.
Recoveries Rise By 201 Percent
The latest achievement follows steady improvements in the system. In fact, monthly recovery of lost and stolen mobile handsets has increased by 201 percent between April 2025 and July 2026.
This growth reflects the combined efforts of the Department of Telecommunications, its Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU), field units and police personnel across States and Union Territories.
Meanwhile, the Licensed Service Areas (LSAs) of DoT have also played an important role. Teams across the country are working with State and Union Territory police departments to trace devices and return them to their rightful owners.
Through this coordinated approach, authorities have strengthened the system for tracking lost and stolen mobile handsets. Consequently, more citizens can benefit from faster and more effective recovery efforts.
How Sanchar Saathi Works
Sanchar Saathi uses an indigenous digital platform to support real-time device traceability. At the same time, it uses automated workflows to connect different stages of the reporting and recovery process.
A citizen can report a lost or stolen mobile handset through the Sanchar Saathi web portal or mobile app. In this way, the citizen can provide the required details of the device and start the recovery process.
Once a handset is reported, it can be blocked on Indian telecom networks. As a result, the device cannot be used for regular telecom services, reducing the risk of misuse.
The system also monitors attempts to use a reported handset. If someone inserts a SIM card into the device and tries to use it, the network can generate an alert.
Following this alert, information can reach both the citizen and the concerned police authorities. Police teams can then use the available information to trace the handset.
Thus, the process creates a direct link between citizen reports, telecom networks and police action. It helps turn a lost device report into a traceable case.
Technology Supports Citizen Action
The recovery milestone highlights the value of technology in public service delivery. For many citizens, a lost mobile phone can mean more than the loss of a device. It may contain personal information, financial details, photographs and access to important digital services.
Sanchar Saathi gives citizens a simple way to report such incidents. At the same time, it supports authorities with information that can assist in tracing the device.
More broadly, the initiative shows how digital governance can work at the citizen level. It combines technology with coordinated action by telecom operators and law enforcement agencies.
The increase in recoveries also points to stronger public participation. As more citizens use the platform to report lost and stolen devices, authorities gain more opportunities to trace and recover them.
Citizens Can Report Lost Phones
Citizens can report lost or stolen mobile handsets through the Sanchar Saathi portal at www.sancharsaathi.gov.in or through the Sanchar Saathi mobile app.
For this reason, the Department of Telecommunications encourages citizens to report such incidents promptly. Timely reporting can help authorities block the device and begin the traceability process.
The recovery of more than 75,000 handsets in one month marks an important step in this effort. Furthermore, it underlines the potential of technology-driven governance to protect citizens and their digital assets.
Going forward, the Department of Telecommunications will continue to strengthen digital services that place citizens at the centre of the system. In line with this approach, Sanchar Saathi remains aligned with the Government’s broader Digital India vision of using technology to deliver accessible, responsive and citizen-focused services.
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