Lost Phones Can Be Blocked on All Indian Networks via DoT's CEIR Portal; Recovered Ones Unblocked

A lost or stolen mobile phone can be blocked so that it stops working on Indian mobile networks. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) runs the Central Equipment Identity Register, known as CEIR, and owners reach the service through the Sanchar Saathi portal at sancharsaathi.gov.in. According to the portal, a blocked handset cannot be used on any Indian telecom network.

The process has two routes, an online form on the CEIR site and a request made through State Police. Blocking, tracing and unblocking each follow their own steps. The details below come from the Sanchar Saathi portal, a Zee News guide published on 17 May 2023, and a DoT statement dated 12 February 2026 as reported by Let's Data Science.

Two Routes to Block a Phone

The Sanchar Saathi portal lists two ways to block a lost or stolen handset. An owner can use the CEIR request form, or the loss can be reported to State Police, which can place the block. The portal also points to an app, available on Google Play and the App Store, that can be used for these services.

The portal says a reported handset is blocked on Indian networks within 24 hours. If the block was placed by State Police, the owner must return to State Police to have it lifted.

What the Online Form Asks For

The portal says the owner must first file a police report and keep a copy. The form also requires a copy of that police report and an identity proof. A purchase invoice is optional, though the portal describes it as helpful.

The OTP for the blocking request goes to the lost number, so the portal advises getting a duplicate SIM for that number from the telecom provider. The portal adds that SMS on a reissued SIM works only after 24 hours of activation, which it attributes to TRAI rules.

Zee News, in its 17 May 2023 guide, lists the form fields as device details (mobile number, IMEI number and brand), loss details (place, date and police complaint number), and personal details including name, address and identity information. The owner selects the mobile number that will receive the OTP, ticks a declaration and submits. The portal says the form then issues a Request ID, which is used for status checks and for unblocking later.

Zee News lists a police complaint number among the loss details, while the portal requires a police report before the online form. Whether the complaint number itself is mandatory is not stated in either source. If a request already exists through the police, the portal says the system will say so.

Complaint IDs and Checking Status

A complaint can be registered on the CEIR site, which generates a Complaint ID and emails the details to the owner, according to the portal. The owner should save the Complaint ID and the registered mobile number, since both are needed to check status.

To check status, the owner enters the Complaint ID and registered mobile number, then confirms a six-digit OTP sent to that mobile. The same 2023 Zee News guide says users can view their SIM card number and block a SIM if someone uses it under their ID.

What Happens When Someone Tries to Use a Blocked Phone

Any attempt to use a blocked handset generates a traceability report. The portal says the owner is notified by SMS, and the same report also goes to the police station where the loss was reported.

Any attempt to use a blocked handset generates a traceability report.

Unblocking a Recovered Phone

Once the phone is found and back in the owner's possession, it can be unblocked through the CEIR form or the Sanchar Saathi app, according to the portal. The portal says the owner should first report to local police that the phone has been found. A phone blocked through State Police must be unblocked through State Police.

The 2023 Zee News guide sets out the online steps. The owner opens the CEIR unblock request page and chooses the option for a recovered or found phone. The owner then enters the Request ID issued at blocking, the mobile number that received OTPs and alerts at that time, and a reason for unblocking. After entering the captcha and requesting the OTP, the owner clicks submit, and the guide says the phone is then unblocked.

What the Figures Show So Far

The Sanchar Saathi portal shows cumulative totals of 63,31,085 mobiles blocked, 39,12,167 traced and 14,72,825 recovered. The portal gives the recovery rate as 37.65 per cent. The statistics carry no as-of date. A footer on the page reads 15 October 2026 as its last-updated stamp, and the page does not say whether that date applies to the figures.

A DoT statement dated 12 February 2026, as reported by Let's Data Science, said that 8.5 lakh stolen handsets had been tracked and returned to owners through CEIR. The report said the returns were based on complaints from users.

The same report gives other figures linked to the wider telecom effort. It says the Financial Risk Indicator, rolled out in May 2025, reportedly prevented about 1,400 crore rupees in cyber fraud. It says the Digital Intelligence Platform analyses 122 crore customer records using AI and facial recognition, and that work linked to it led to the closure of five crore connections. The 8.5 lakh figure and the portal totals come from different sources and dates, and they are not presented here as a single series.