Sanchar Saathi recovers over 75,000 lost phones in a month

MUMBAI: Lost phones are finding their way home, and Sanchar Saathi is helping shorten the journey. The Department of Telecommunications’ (DoT) citizen-centric Sanchar Saathi initiative has recovered more than 75,000 lost or stolen mobile handsets in a single month for the first time since its launch.

The milestone marks a sharp rise in recoveries and comes as DoT strengthens coordination between its Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU), field units, telecom service providers (TSPs) and police departments across States and Union Territories.

According to DoT, monthly handset recoveries increased by 201 per cent between April 2025 and July 2026, with improvements to the system aimed at making it easier for authorities to trace devices and return them to their owners.

One of the key changes is greater visibility for citizens once a handset is traced. The name of the police station handling the recovery is now shared through SMS and email and is also available on the Sanchar Saathi portal and app.

Police authorities can also access details of the SIM inserted into a lost or stolen handset, including an alternate mobile number, giving investigators additional information to pursue recoveries.

DoT has also added a safety step for recovered devices. Citizens are advised through SMS to factory-reset their handsets after recovery to protect against any suspected malware.

The system works by linking device blocking and traceability with telecom networks. Once a lost or stolen handset is reported through Sanchar Saathi, the device is blocked from Indian telecom networks, preventing it from being misused.

If someone subsequently attempts to use the blocked handset, the network generates an alert that is shared with the citizen and the relevant police station. This allows authorities to trace the device and work towards returning it to its rightful owner.

DoT said the latest recovery milestone has been supported by an indigenous technology platform, automated workflows and real-time device traceability, with continuous feedback from stakeholders being used to improve the system.

Citizens can report lost or stolen mobile phones through the Sanchar Saathi web portal or mobile app, making the service a technology-led link between users, telecom operators and law enforcement.

The initiative is part of DoT’s wider push to protect citizens’ digital assets and strengthen technology-driven governance under the government’s Digital India vision.