The Department of Telecommunications has achieved a major milestone by helping recover more than six lakh stolen and misplaced mobile phones through its flagship digital safety platform Sanchar Saathi, the government said on 30 September.

In its statement, the government noted that this accomplishment reflects the growing trust of citizens in digital governance and highlights the impact of technology-driven solutions.

“The ‘Block Your Lost/ Stolen Mobile Handset’ facility on the flagship citizen-centric digital safety initiative ‘Sanchar-Saathi’ of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has crossed a significant milestone by facilitating the recovery of over 6 lakh lost and stolen mobile handsets, marking a significant outcome reinforcing the citizens’ trust in digital Governance,” the statement said.

According to the government, this progress underlines its commitment to safeguarding citizens’ digital assets while also demonstrating how collaborative systems can effectively combat cybercrime.

The 'Block Your Lost/ Stolen Mobile Handset' facility brings together DoT, telecom service providers, and state and union territory police in real time. Designed on the ‘Digital by Design’ approach, the system currently enables the recovery of one mobile phone every minute.

The service allows citizens to report, block, trace, or unblock stolen or lost mobile phones across all Indian telecom networks. Once reported, the device is blocked on a pan-India basis to prevent misuse. If a SIM card is inserted into such a handset, an automatic trace is generated and alerts are sent to the user and to the police station where the complaint was filed. The citizen also receives details of the concerned police station through SMS for follow-up.

Field units of DoT work closely with law enforcement agencies through training and coordination to ensure that traced devices are recovered and returned to their rightful owners.

The government further stated that recovery figures have improved steadily in recent months. Monthly recoveries rose from 28,115 in January 2025 to 45,243 in August 2025, a 61 per cent rise over eight months.

“This upward trajectory reflects the platform's growing integration with law enforcement agencies and enhanced citizen awareness. The crossing of 6 lakh recoveries represents more than just numbers – it reflects the restoration of digital security for hundreds of thousands of Indian families. Each recovered device represents prevented fraud, restored communication, and reinforced trust in our digital ecosystem,” the statement said.

The government added that Sanchar Saathi also embodies the spirit of citizen participation in governance, proving how coordinated efforts between government, technology, and people can create meaningful results. Its success directly contributes to the Digital India vision and the creation of a cyber-secure Digital Bharat.

Launched in May 2023, Sanchar Saathi has grown into India’s most comprehensive digital safety platform. It has recorded over 19 crore website visits and more than 90 lakh downloads of its mobile application. The platform offers multiple citizen-focused services, including-

‘Chakshu’ for reporting suspected fraud communications; ‘Know Your Mobile Connections’ to verify all active mobile numbers; ‘Device Authenticity Verification’ to check IMEI validity via portal, app, or SMS to 14422; ‘International Call Reporting’ to report suspicious international calls with Indian caller IDs; ‘Trusted Contact Details’ to access verified information of banks and financial institutions

The mobile app is available in Hindi, English, and 21 regional languages, ensuring accessibility for citizens across the country.

The government emphasised that the recovery of more than six lakh devices is not just about numbers but about protecting families from fraud, restoring communication, and strengthening trust in the digital ecosystem.