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Sarkari Mobile App27 Sept 2026

Sanchar Saathi App 2026: Block Lost Phone, Check SIMs in Your Name, Report Fraud on Chakshu and Verify IMEI

Sanchar Saathi by the Department of Telecommunications helps you block a lost or stolen phone, see all mobile connections in your name, report fraud calls on Chakshu and check IMEI. Steps, latest figures, helplines and FAQs.

On this page13 sections

Sanchar Saathi is a citizen safety platform of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India. Through the Sanchar Saathi app and the portal sancharsaathi.gov.in, you can block a lost or stolen phone, find out how many mobile connections are registered in your name, report fraud calls and messages, check whether a handset is genuine, and report international calls that show an Indian number.

The portal was launched on 16 May 2023 and the mobile app on 17 January 2025. In July 2026 alone, 77,692 lost or stolen handsets were recovered with its help, according to a Communications Ministry statement of 28 August 2026.

Sanchar Saathi at a Glance

PointDetails
Run byDepartment of Telecommunications, Ministry of Communications
Portalsancharsaathi.gov.in
Portal launched16 May 2023 (with CEIR, KYM and TAFCOP modules)
App launched17 January 2025, by Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia
LanguagesHindi and 21 regional languages added on 29 July 2025, besides English
App developer (Play Store)Department of Telecommunications, Govt of India
Helpdesk011-20907480, [email protected] (9 AM to 5 PM, Monday to Friday)
CostFree

Services on Sanchar Saathi

ServiceWhat It Does
Chakshu: Report Suspected Fraud CommunicationReport suspicious calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages received in the last 30 days, such as fake KYC, bank, SIM, gas or electricity messages, impersonation and sextortion
Chakshu: Report UCC / SpamReport unsolicited commercial calls and SMS
Block Lost or Stolen Mobile (CEIR)Block your lost phone on all Indian networks, track the request and unblock it when found
Know Mobile Connections in Your Name (TAFCOP)See all mobile numbers issued against your identity and report the ones that are not yours or not needed
Know Genuineness of Your Mobile Handset (KYM)Check the IMEI of a handset before buying a used or new phone
Report Incoming International Call with Indian NumberReport international calls that show a +91 number
Know Your Wireline Internet Service ProviderSearch for broadband providers by name, PIN code or address
Trusted Contact DetailsFind the official contact details of banks and financial institutions (added in 2025)

Key Numbers (Latest Available)

FigureValueAs of / Source
Handsets recovered in a single month77,692July 2026, Communications Ministry statement (28 August 2026)
Handsets recovered in 20254.7 lakh+Calendar year 2025 (reported January 2026)
Connections disconnected39.43 lakhRajya Sabha reply, 5 February 2026
Handsets blacklisted2.27 lakhRajya Sabha reply, 5 February 2026
Fraud preventedOver Rs 1,000 croreRajya Sabha reply, 5 February 2026
WhatsApp accounts disengaged28 lakhRajya Sabha reply, 5 February 2026
Chakshu reports2,08,224 in 2024 to 5,19,662 in 2025 (up 149%)Rajya Sabha reply, 5 February 2026
App downloads1.5 crore+DoT Year End Review, 19 December 2025
Portal visits22 croreDoT Year End Review, 19 December 2025

How to Block a Lost or Stolen Phone (CEIR)

  1. File a police complaint about the lost or stolen phone and keep a copy of the complaint.
  2. Get a duplicate SIM for your lost number from your telecom operator. As per TRAI rules, SMS starts working on the new SIM after 24 hours.
  3. Keep documents ready: police complaint copy and an ID proof (Aadhaar, PAN, voter ID, driving licence and so on). The purchase invoice is optional.
  4. Open the block form under "Block Lost or Stolen Mobile" on sancharsaathi.gov.in or in the app.
  5. Fill in the details: mobile number(s), IMEI 1 and IMEI 2, brand, model, place and date of loss, state, district, police station, complaint number and owner details.
  6. Verify the OTP sent to the re-issued SIM and submit the self-declaration.
  7. Save the Request ID. As per the portal, the phone is blocked within 24 hours and cannot be used on any Indian network after that.

If someone puts a SIM into your blocked phone, alerts go to you and to the police station, which helps in tracing it. The police station details are sent to you by SMS and email.

How to Unblock a Recovered Phone

Inform the police that the phone has been found, then fill the unblock request on the same page using your Request ID. If the phone was blocked by the State Police, contact them for unblocking.

Tip: Dial *#06# on your phone today and note down both IMEI numbers. You will need them if the phone is ever lost.

How to Check Mobile Connections in Your Name (TAFCOP)

  1. Open sancharsaathi.gov.in or the app and choose Know Mobile Connections in Your Name.
  2. Enter your mobile number and verify with the OTP.
  3. You will see all mobile numbers registered against your identity.
  4. Mark any number as Not My Number (if you never took it) or Not Required (if you no longer use it).
  5. Submit the request. The numbers you report are taken up for disconnection.

Checking this regularly helps you catch SIMs taken in your name by misuse of your ID documents.

How to Report Fraud Calls and Messages (Chakshu)

  1. Open Chakshu on the portal or app.
  2. Choose the medium (call, SMS or WhatsApp) and the fraud category, such as KYC update, bank, fake customer care, impersonation of officials or sextortion.
  3. Fill in the details the form asks for, such as the number or sender and the date and time of the communication.
  4. Complete the verification and submit.

Note: Chakshu is for reporting suspected fraud attempts. If you have already lost money, call the cyber crime helpline 1930 immediately or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in.

How to Check if a Handset Is Genuine (KYM)

  1. Dial *#06# on the handset to see its 15-digit IMEI.
  2. SMS KYM <15-digit IMEI> to 14422, or use the KYM option in the app or portal.
  3. The reply shows the brand and model linked to that IMEI. If it does not match the phone, or the IMEI is blacklisted, do not buy it.

Pre-installation Order and Its Withdrawal (December 2025)

In late November 2025, DoT directed handset makers and importers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new phones. This was publicised on 2 December 2025. On 3 December 2025, the government announced that it had decided not to make pre-installation mandatory, citing the app's growing acceptance. The government said users can remove the app whenever they want.

On privacy, PIB has stated that the app works only after the user registers, can be deactivated or deleted, and follows the IT Act, 2000 and the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, with no sharing with third parties except with law enforcement where the law requires it.

Important Helpline Numbers

PurposeNumber / Contact
Cyber crime or financial fraud (money lost)1930 or cybercrime.gov.in
DND (Do Not Disturb) registration1909
International call showing a +91 number1963 or 1800110420
Check handset IMEI (KYM)SMS to 14422
Sanchar Saathi helpdesk011-20907480, [email protected]

Safety Tips

  • Download the app only from official stores. The developer name should be Department of Telecommunications.
  • Use only sancharsaathi.gov.in. Websites with similar names ending in .net or .com are not official.
  • Banks, telecom companies and government officers never ask for your OTP over a call.
  • Check the Trusted Contact Details section before calling back a number that claims to be your bank.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is Sanchar Saathi an official government app?
Yes. It is run by the Department of Telecommunications, Government of India.

Q2. Is it mandatory to keep the Sanchar Saathi app on my phone?
No. The government withdrew the pre-installation requirement on 3 December 2025 and said users can remove the app when they want.

Q3. How long does it take to block a lost phone?
As per the portal, the phone is blocked within 24 hours of submitting the request.

Q4. I lost money in a fraud call. Should I use Chakshu?
No. Call 1930 or file a complaint at cybercrime.gov.in right away. Chakshu is for reporting suspected fraud communication.

Q5. How do I know how many SIMs are in my name?
Use the "Know Mobile Connections in Your Name" service on the app or portal.

Q6. Is Sanchar Saathi available in Hindi?
Yes. Hindi and 21 regional languages were added on 29 July 2025.

Conclusion

Sanchar Saathi puts simple but powerful telecom safety tools in your hands. Note your IMEI numbers today, check the SIMs registered in your name, and report fraud attempts on Chakshu. If your phone is ever lost, file a police complaint and block it on CEIR as soon as possible.

Last updated: 27 September 2026. Figures are from the dates mentioned. Check sancharsaathi.gov.in for the latest.