Mobile phone theft is no longer just a law-and-order issue. A stolen device can compromise personal data, banking access, UPI accounts and an individual's entire digital identity.
The success of the CEIR platform demonstrates both the scale of the challenge and the effectiveness of technology-led solutions. As per official data, over 50 lakh mobile handsets have already been blocked through CEIR, more than 31 lakh traced and over 10 lakh recovered.
Building on this success, I have suggested integration of CEIR, NCRB and State Police FIR databases so that every reported stolen phone is immediately flagged at the national level. I have also proposed a dedicated national stolen-mobile database and secure sharing of verified stolen-device data with trusted manufacturers and technology companies to prevent activation, resale, servicing and reuse of stolen devices.
Further, second-hand mobile sellers, repair centres and online marketplaces should be encouraged to verify IMEI status before sale or servicing.
The objective is simple: a stolen mobile phone should become unusable and commercially worthless. This will reduce mobile theft, curb cyber fraud, protect citizens and strengthen trust in India's rapidly expanding digital ecosystem.
With this objective, today I wrote to Hon’ble Union Minister Shri
@AshwiniVaishnaw Ji, requesting consideration of a stronger national framework to make stolen mobile phones completely unusable across India. I am confident that under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri
@narendramodi Ji and the able leadership of Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw Ji, India will continue to build a safer, more secure and more resilient digital ecosystem for every citizen.
#DigitalIndia #CyberSecurity #CitizenSafety #TechnologyForGood