Sanchar Saathi crosses 30 crore visits; 14 lakh lost or stolen phones recovered
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The Department of Telecommunications’ Sanchar Saathi portal, launched in May 2023, has crossed 30 crore visits. It has blocked 60.96 lakh lost or stolen phones, traced 37.85 lakh and helped recover over 14 lakh. Citizen reports through Chakshu feed the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator, which has helped prevent suspected losses of over ₹5,000 crore.
- Launched
- May 2023, DoT
- Visits
- 30 crore+
- Phones blocked / traced / recovered
- 60.96 lakh / 37.85 lakh / 14 lakh+
- Fraud reporting
- Chakshu
- FRI impact
- ₹5,000 crore+ suspected losses prevented
Sanchar Saathi: what happened?
A citizen tool that turns individual complaints into data the government, banks and police can act on.
- The DoT’s Sanchar Saathi portal has been visited more than 30 crore times since its launch in May 2023 [PIB].
- Over 14 lakh lost/stolen handsets recovered; over 4 crore requests on connections in citizens’ names resolved; citizen reports feed the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator, which helped prevent suspected losses of over ₹5,000 crore [PIB].
What can a citizen do on Sanchar Saathi?
- Report suspected fraud calls, SMS or WhatsApp messages (Chakshu).
- Check all mobile connections in one’s name and report unknown ones.
- Block a lost or stolen phone across all networks and trace it.
- Check a handset’s genuineness by IMEI before buying.
- Report international calls disguised as +91 numbers.
Why does Sanchar Saathi matter?
- Governance: Citizen-centric e-governance.
- Security: Cuts SIM fraud and phone theft markets.
What can Prelims ask on Sanchar Saathi?
- Sanchar Saathi: DoT, launched May 2023.
- Chakshu = fraud communication reporting.
- IMEI check for handset genuineness.
How to use this in Mains
- As per PIB, Ministry of Communications (2026-10-05): the DoT's Sanchar Saathi portal has been visited more than 30 crore times since its launch in May 2023.
- Citizen-centric cyber safety tools are good e-governance examples for GS2/GS3.
Quotable data pointOver 14 lakh lost/stolen handsets recovered; over 4 crore requests on connections in citizens' names resolved; citizen reports feed the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator, which helped prevent suspected losses of over ₹5,000 crore.
PIB, Ministry of Communications: Sanchar Saathi portal crosses 30 crore visits, 5 Oct 2026
Exam angle
Prelims: tools and names. · Mains GS-III: cyber security; GS-II: e-governance.
Practice MCQs
Original practice questions (not PYQs).
"Chakshu" on the Sanchar Saathi portal is used to
Answer (b) & explanation
PIB, 5 Oct 2026.
Sanchar Saathi was launched by
Answer (b) & explanation
DoT, May 2023.
Questions students ask about this
What is Sanchar Saathi?
A citizen portal and app of the Department of Telecommunications for reporting fraud, checking connections and blocking lost phones.
What is Chakshu?
The Sanchar Saathi facility to report suspected fraud calls and messages.
How many lost phones have been recovered?
Over 14 lakh, out of 60.96 lakh blocked.
Keep studying
Go deeper
Official source: PIB, Ministry of Communications: Sanchar Saathi portal crosses 30 crore visits, 5 Oct 2026
facts from cited sources only; faculty review pending