The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has notified the Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025 on 22^nd October 2025.

The provisions for reverification and disconnection of numbers existed prior to these rules and were governed by licensing conditions and instructions issued thereof. DoT has developed a citizen centric initiative Sanchar Saathi which provides facilities including suspected fraud reporting, block your lost/ stolen mobile handset, check mobile connections in your name & report unauthorized ones and check genuineness of mobile handset. Based on report of citizens as ‘Not My Number’, 1.44 crore mobile connections have been disconnected after failing reverification. Further, DoT through its ASTR tool detects mobile connections that were acquired through forged documents and has disconnected more than 86 lakhs such connections after they failed reverification.

DoT is promoting digital safety and preventing telecom-related fraud through widespread awareness campaigns under Sanchar Saathi. Its outreach includes multilingual news articles and ads, digital screens and hoardings in public spaces, TV and radio messages, local-level activities by DoT field units, SMS campaigns with Telecom Service Providers, and extensive social media content such as explainer videos and infographics. Sanchar Mitras, who are student volunteers, have been engaged to educate citizens about digital safety, fraud prevention, and the use of the Sanchar Saathi portal and app. Their involvement helps deepen awareness at the grassroots level, especially through communication in local languages.

DoT is undertaking necessary coordination with the relevant stakeholders for the implementation of the Rules. The Telecommunications (Telecom Cyber Security) Amendment Rules, 2025 are in force from the date of their publication in the Official Gazette i.e. 22^nd October 2025.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Communications and Rural Development Dr. Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

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MI/ARJ

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