The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) announced on 14 October 2026 that it will recognize and award top-performing States, Union Territories, Police Districts, and Police Stations for recovering lost or stolen mobile handsets. These awards will be presented at upcoming National, Zonal, and State level events based on the total number of handsets recovered and the accuracy of those recoveries. The initiative aims to encourage better coordination between police, telecom operators, and DoT to return devices to their owners. The release does not say when the awards take effect, though it notes that evaluation methodology will be finalized by DoT.
Key points
- Awards target States/UTs, Police Districts, and Police Stations for mobile handset recovery.
- Performance is measured by total handsets recovered and accuracy (recovered vs traced).
- Awards will be presented at DoT's National, Zonal, and State level events.
- Sanchar Saathi portal allows citizens to block and trace lost or stolen handsets.
When it applies
The document does not state when it takes effect.
Who it affects
- States/UTs, Police Districts and Police Stations