The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has today released a Pre-Consultation Paper on “Review of existing TRAI Regulations on Interconnection matters” seeking inputs from stakeholders.
To facilitate this review, the Authority invites all stakeholders to participate in the pre-consultation process by submitting the issues, concerns and suggestions pertaining to the existing interconnection regulations to develop a futuristic and robust regulatory framework for interconnection.
Written comments on the Pre-Consultation Paper are invited from stakeholders by 16th April 2025. Inputs/ Comments received from stakeholders would be analysed and examined to prepare a consultation paper on the subject
The comments may be sent, preferably in electronic form at adv-nsl1@trai.gov.in. For any clarification / information Shri Sameer Gupta, Advisor (Networks, Spectrum & Licensing-I), TRAI may be contacted at Telephone Number +91-11-20907752.
Union Government Disburses Over Rs. 1,440 Crores in XV-Finance Commission Grants to Boost Rural Development Across Five States Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland Receive Substantial Untied Grants for Local Needs
Posted On: 03 APR 2025 4:54PM by PIB Delhi
The Union Government has disbursed the Fifteenth Finance Commission (XV-FC) grants to Rural Local Bodies (RLBs)/ Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in five States viz. Arunachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Nagaland and Punjab during the financial year 2024–25. These grants, allocated in two installments per financial year, are released by the Ministry of Finance based on recommendations from the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the Ministry of Jal Shakti (Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation).
Funds designated for all eligible RLBs in the State.
Utilization of Grants:
Untied Grants: These grants empower RLBs/PRIs to address location-specific needs under the 29 Subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution, excluding salaries and establishment costs.
Tied Grants: These funds must be utilized for:
(a) Sanitation and maintenance of ODF (Open Defecation Free) status, including household waste management, human excreta, and fecal sludge treatment.
(b) Drinking water supply, rainwater harvesting, and water recycling.
The timely release of XV-FC grants reaffirms the Union Government’s commitment to strengthening local governance and ensuring effective service delivery in rural areas.
Seaweed is a nutrient-rich marine plant, packed with vitamins, minerals and amino acids.
It contains 54 trace elements and essential nutrients that help fight diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart problems and high blood pressure.
Seaweed is a sea plant that grows in the ocean and seas.
Seaweed cultivation requires no land, freshwater, fertilizers or pesticides, making it sustainable.
The $5.6 billion seaweed industry is booming, with India’s production increasing steadily.
Under one of its components, the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) aims to boost seaweed production to 1.12 million tonnes in five years.
Introduction
India, blessed with a 7,500 km-long coastline, stands at the edge of the ocean’s vast potential. The seashores hold untapped treasures beneath the waves, offering rich resources beyond traditional fisheries. Among these, seaweed farming is emerging as a booming livelihood option, unlocking new opportunities for coastal communities.
Seaweed is a type of marine plant that grows in oceans and seas. It is used in many products like food, cosmetics, fertilizers and even in medicine. It grows in shallow waters and doesn’t require land or freshwater, making it an eco-friendly crop. It’s becoming popular worldwide as a healthy food because it’s easy to grow and needs little care. Seaweed is rich in vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. It helps fight diseases like cancer, diabetes, arthritis, heart problems and high blood pressure. It also boosts immunity and keeps the body healthy.
Unlocking the Potential of Seaweed
Seaweed isn’t just for eating—it’s also used in industries for making thickening and gelling agents:
Alginate (US$ 213 million): Extracted from brown seaweeds (harvested from the wild). It’s used as a thickener in foods, cosmetics, and even medical products.
Agar (US$ 132 million): Comes from red seaweeds. It’s been cultivated since the 1960s and is used in desserts, jams, and laboratory cultures.
Carrageenan (US$ 240 million): Extracted from certain red seaweeds like Irish Moss. It’s used in dairy products, ice creams, and toothpaste.
Seaweed has been used as food since the 4th century in Japan and the 6th century in China. Today, Japan, China and South Korea are the biggest consumers of seaweed. The global seaweed industry—including food, industrial products and extracts—is valued at around US$ 5.6 billion. According to a World Bank report, 10 emerging seaweed markets could grow by up to US$ 11.8 billion by 2030.
Promoting Seaweed Farming in India
Seaweed has the potential to address the challenge of nutritional deficiency in India. Out of around 844 seaweed species, about 60 are commercially valuable. The government, along with the National Fisheries Development Board (NFDB), is working to boost this sector through policies, infrastructure support, and collaborations with states and research institutes.
In June 2020, the Government of India launched the PMMSY (Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana) with an investment of ₹20,050 crore to boost the fisheries sector. Seaweed farming is a key focus under this scheme. The government has allocated a total budget of Rs. 640 crore for seaweed cultivation in India from 2020 to 2025. This significant investment is aimed at boosting the seaweed industry and promoting sustainability. Out of this total, Rs. 194.09 crore is being used for key projects, including the establishment of a Multipurpose Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu and the development of a Seaweed Brood Bank in Daman and Diu. So far, 46,095 rafts and 65,330 monocline tubenets have been approved for seaweed farming. Under the PMMSY scheme, India aims to boost seaweed farming, increasing production to 1.12 million tonnesin the next 5 years.
Key Benefits of Seaweed Production
Seaweed production offers a range of environmental and economic benefits. It supports sustainable livelihoods and helps boost the economy.
Biostimulants in Farming: Seaweed is one of the eight types of biostimulants, which help increase crop yields, improve soil health and make plants stronger. The Government of India regulates the quality of seaweed used as biostimulants under the Fertilizer (Control) Order, 1985.
A biostimulant is a natural substance or microorganism that helps plants grow stronger. It improves the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients and makes them more resistant to stress, like drought or diseases. Unlike fertilizers or pesticides, biostimulants don’t provide nutrients directly but enhance the plant’s natural processes for better growth and health.
Support for Organic Farming: Since 2015-16, the government has encouraged organic farming through schemes like Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY) and Mission Organic Value Chain Development for the Northeast (MOVCDNER), promoting seaweed-based organic fertilizers for farmers.
Ecological Importance: Seaweed farming is eco-friendly as it helps fight climate change by absorbing CO₂ from the air. Seaweed also improves ocean health by cleaning the water and providing homes for marine life.
Economic Benefits: Seaweed farming offers a new way to earn money besides fishing. For example, farming Kappaphycus alvarezii can earn farmers up to ₹13,28,000 per hectare per year. Seaweed products like biofuels and fertilizers are in high demand globally, helping India earn foreign currency.
Key Seaweed Developments in India
Success Stories
Empowering Women Through Seaweed Farming
Jeya Lakshmi, Jeya, Thangam, and Kaleeswari from Mandapam, Tamil Nadu, were homemakers from poor families struggling to make ends meet. After attending a seaweed farming training under the PMMSY scheme, they decided to start their own business. With an investment of ₹27,000 and financial support from Tamil Nadu State Apex Fisheries Co-operative Federation Limited (TAFCOFED), they began seaweed cultivation. Despite challenges like cyclones, nutrient issues, and marketing hurdles, they managed to produce 36,000 tonnes of wet seaweed. This not only made them financially independent but also created jobs for other women in their community, inspiring many to pursue seaweed farming.
Boosting Seaweed Production with Tissue Culture
The CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute (CSIR-CSMCRI) introduced a tissue culture technique to mass-produce Kappaphycus alvarezii (elkhorn sea moss) in Tamil Nadu. This seaweed is valuable for producing carrageenan, used in food, pharma, and cosmetics. Through this project, tissue-cultured seedlings were distributed to farmers in Ramanathapuram, Pudukottai, and Tuticorin districts. Farmers produced 30 tonnes of seaweed in just two cycles, with a 20-30% higher growth rate and better-quality carrageenan. This breakthrough is set to boost commercial seaweed farming in India.
Conclusion
Seaweed farming can improve the lives of India’s coastal communities by creating jobs and increasing incomes. It’s a sustainable alternative to traditional fishing, especially for women and youth. While challenges like climate risks and market access exist, government schemes like PMMSY and the Seaweed Park in Tamil Nadu are helping the industry grow. With more support and innovation, seaweed farming can boost India’s economy and build a greener future for coastal areas.
As per the Gazette Notification S.O. 1364(E) dated 21st March 2025, issued by Ministry of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) the eligibility criteria for classification of MSMES has been revised. This revision marks a significant step towards fostering industrial growth, encouraging higher investments, and strengthening India’s position as a global manufacturing hub. In line with this notification, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) has updated the eligibility criteria for issuance of Industrial Entrepreneur Memorandum (IEM) acknowledgment.
Revised Eligibility Criteria for IEM Acknowledgment As per the updated guidelines, enterprises meeting the following revised criteria shall be eligible for IEM acknowledgment:
Investment in plant & machinery/equipment exceeding 125 crore, or/and
Annual turnover exceeding *500 crore
The revised criteria shall be applicable w.e.f. 1st April, 2025.
This is a significant increase in threshold limits in investment in plant & machinery from existing 50 crore to 125 crore and annual turnover limit from existing 250 crore to 500 crore.
IEM acknowledgment is for:
Large-scale operating in requiring compulsory licensing under the Industries (Development & Regulation) Act, 1951.
Companies having investment in plant and machinery, or/and annual turnover beyond the limits set for MSMES.
It is, therefore, notified for information of all stakeholders that eligible enterprises can apply for IEM acknowledgment through the G2B Portal as per the revised eligibility criteria.
The Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016, provide the statutory framework for the management of solid waste in the country. As per the Rules, the local authorities and village panchayats of census towns and urban agglomerations, shall allow only the non-usable, non-recyclable, non-biodegradable, non-combustible and non-reactive inert waste and pre-processing rejects and residues from waste processing facilities to go to sanitary landfill sites. The rules further stipulate that every effort shall be made to recycle or reuse the rejects to achieve the desired objective of zero waste going to landfill. Further, all old open dumpsites and existing operational dumpsites are to be investigated and analysed by local authorities and village panchayats for their potential of biomining and bio-remediation and wheresoever, feasible, take necessary actions to bio-mine or bio-remediate the sites.
Local bodies are also mandated to facilitate construction, operation and maintenance of solid waste processing facilities and associated infrastructure using suitable technology including the following technologies and adhering to the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs from time to time and standards prescribed by the Central Pollution Control Board. Model Procurement Documents have been prepared by Ministry of Housing & Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and shared with all States to expedite the bidding process. A public dashboard also captures live data at https://swachhurban.org for transparency and project monitoring. Preference shall be given to decentralized processing to minimize transportation cost and environmental impacts such as:
(i) bio-methanation, microbial composting, vermi-composting, anaerobic digestion or any other appropriate processing for bio-stabilisation of biodegradable wastes; and
(ii) waste to energy processes including refused derived fuel for combustible fraction of waste or supply as feedstock to solid waste-based power plants or cement kilns
Swachh Bharat Mission (SBM-U) 2.0 has been launched on October 1, 2021 for a period of five years with a vision of achieving safe sanitation, scientific management of all fractions of waste including bio-degradable waste and remediation of legacy dumpsites. Legacy dumpsites have been created over decades and pose a very challenging task. For the first time, the task of knocking down these garbage-dumps has been taken up at a national scale under Swachh Bharat Mission.
As reported by States/UTs on Swachhattam portal, a total of 1,61,157 ton per day (TPD) of Municipal Solid Waste is generated in the urban areas of the country. Out of which 1,29,708 TPD is processed. i.e. against 16% waste processing in 2014, the current processing capacity has increased to 80.49% by setting up of waste processing facilities such as Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), transfer stations, composting plants, Construction and Demolition (C&D) and waste to energy plants including waste to electricity, bio-methanation plants etc. State-wise waste processing facilities are available on website at https://sbmurban.org/swachh-bharat-mission-progess States/Union Territories prepare and submit the City Solid Waste Action Plan (CSWAP) for management of solid waste to claim funds. Under Solid Waste Management (SWM) component of SBM-U 2.0, Central Financial Assistance (CFA) is provided for setting up of waste processing facilities such as Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), composting plants, Construction and Demolition (C&D) and waste to energy plants including waste to electricity, bio-methanation plants etc. to States/UTs on the basis of their needs decide suitable types of SWM plants. Separate details of financial assistance provided for waste to electricity and biogas are not maintained. Under SWM component of SBM-U, projects including waste to energy and waste to biogas worth Rs. 23549.42 crore having central share of Rs. 8662.28 crore has been approved and central share of Rs. 1970.92 crore has been released from 2020-21 to 2025-26.
Ministry of Housing and Urban Affair (MoHUA) provides support under SBM-Urban for setting up of municipal solid waste based CBG plants in Urban Area. As per the budget announcement 2023-24, 500 new “Waste to Wealth” plants under GOBARdhan are to be established for promoting circular economy. These will include 200 compressed biogas (CBG) plants, including 75 plants in urban areas.
Under Phase-II of Swachh Bharat Mission- Grameen (SBM-G), financial assistance of up to Rs. 50.00 lakh per district is available for the complete programme period from 2020-21 to 2025-26 for setting up of Community level biogas plant under GOBARdhan. As on date, States/UTs have reported 895 functional community biogas plants with minimum capacity of 5 cum/day on GOBARdhan portal. Details of the State/UT wise Functional Community Biogas Plants under SBM-G is given in Annexure – I.
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has issued new guidelines regarding Waste to Energy Programme (Programme on Energy from Urban, Industrial, Agricultural Wastes/ Residues) on 02.11.2022. Under new guidelines of the programme for the period of 2020-21 to 2025-26, Central Financial Assistance shall be made available to projects for setting up of large Biogas, BioCNG and Power plants (excluding MSW to Power projects). State-wise details provided by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy regarding Bio-methanation projects alongwith financial assistance provide for establishment of the Bio-methanation plants during the last five years and the current year are at Annexure -II.
This information was given by the Minister of State for Housing & Urban Affairs, SHRI TOKHAN SAHU in a written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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Annexure – I
State/UT wise Functional Community Biogas Plants under SBM-G
Annexure – II
State-wise details of CFA provided to bio-methanation (Biogas/BioCNG/ Biogas to power) plants supported under the Waste to Energy programme during last five years and the current year:
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
​The third session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) and the third session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) (“two sessions”) were concluded successfully in March this year. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (April 3) held a seminar on learning the spirit of the “two sessions” at the Central Government Offices to enable participants to have a deeper understanding of the essence of the “two sessions” and its significance to the HKSAR.
The seminar was hosted by the Chief Executive, Mr John Lee. The Director of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the HKSAR, Mr Zheng Yanxiong, was invited to the seminar to share his views. The seminar was attended by more than 320 participants, including Principal Officials of the HKSAR Government, HKSAR deputies to the NPC, HKSAR members of the National Committee of the CPPCC, Members of the Executive Council and Legislative Council, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Department.
Speaking at the seminar, Director Zheng said that the HKSAR has to grasp the spirit of the “two sessions” focusing on seven aspects. They are, namely, grasping deeply the spirit of the important speech of General Secretary Xi Jinping in the “two sessions”; the significant achievements of the country on all fronts over the past year; the bright prospects in national economic and social development; the overall requirements and major tasks for economic and social development this year; the key initiatives in the government work report; the significance of amending the Law on Deputies; and the key plans for Hong Kong as highlighted by the “two sessions”.
Director Zheng also said that the government work report has pointed out boost of capacity for innovation and radiating effect of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, striving for solid progress in pursuing high-quality Belt and Road co-operation, and speeding up the process of seeking to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership. These plans are closely related to Hong Kong and deserve a high degree of attention. In particular, the emphasis on “deepening international exchanges and co-operation and better integration into the national development” highlighted the importance for Hong Kong to capitalise on its advantages as an international city and to integrate into the overall national development. It highlighted the dialectical relationship between Hong Kong’s connection to the Mainland and to the world.
Mr Lee expressed his gratitude to Director Zheng for his sharing, which deepened participants’ understanding of the spirit of the “two sessions”. Mr Lee said that the Central Government firmly supports Hong Kong’s development. The Government will fully implement the spirit of the “two sessions” in its governance to continuously unite society to further deepen reforms comprehensively, proactively identify, adapt to, and drive change, pursue economic development and improve people’s livelihood, fully leverage the institutional strengths of “one country, two systems” and proactively align with national development strategies, further deepen international collaboration and proactively capitalise on Hong Kong’s role as a bridge linking the Mainland and the world. Hong Kong will vigorously develop new quality productive forces, accelerate its development into an international innovation and technology centre, further consolidate and enhance the city’s status as an international financial, shipping and trade centre, actively build an international hub for high-calibre talent, and take forward the development of the Northern Metropolis and the Hetao Shenzhen-Hong Kong Science and Technology Innovation Co-operation Zone. Apart from strengthening economic and trade ties with traditional markets, Hong Kong will also deepen its exchanges and co-operation with new markets such as the Middle East, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and Central Asia, contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative, and tell the good stories of China and Hong Kong.
Mr Lee encouraged government officials and various sectors of the community to continue to work hard in their respective positions and stay united to contribute to the stability and prosperity of Hong Kong and the well-being of its people, and meet the challenges ahead with greater confidence and determination to jointly build a better future for Hong Kong.
Source: Hong Kong Government special administrative region
HKSAR Government expresses strong disapproval of US’s imposition of so-called reciprocal tariff on products of Hong Kong “In 2023, the US was the third largest trading partner of Hong Kong, with the total merchandise trade value amounting to US$60.3 billion. During the past 10 years, the US has realised a trade surplus of US$271.5 billion with Hong Kong, the largest among its global trading partners. The US’s measures are mere unilateral protectionism that harm the interests of all,” the spokesman added.
As for the duty-free de minimis treatment for postal items despatched from Hong Kong to the US, the US has been repeatedly changing its policies unilaterally. Hongkong Post has requested the postal administration of the US to promptly clarify the matter and should not cause inconvenience to the public. From now until May 2, Hongkong Post will temporarily maintain postal services to the US but will not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the US authorities.Issued at HKT 20:07
A new study has uncoded the mysteries of how the venom of Pope’s pit viper, a snake species native to northern and northeastern parts of India, works. The study can help establish the foundation for venom toxicity, pharmaceutical advancements, and enhanced antivenom compositions.
The “Big Four” venomous snakes—Russell’s Viper, Saw-Scaled Viper, Spectacled Cobra, and Common Krait—have undergone considerable research, but venom composition of Pope’s Pit Viper (Trimeresurus popeiorum), an arboreal, nocturnal serpent indigenous to the dense forests of Northeast India, remains unexamined.
Fig: Pope’s Pit Viper
Prof. Ashis K. Mukherjee, Director of the Institute of Advanced Study in Science and Technology, an autonomous institution of the Department of Science and Technology (DST) spearheaded a recent investigation along with Prof. B.G. Nair, Dr. M. Vanuopadath, Dr. Bhargab Kalita, and Dr. Aparup Patra from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, as well as Dr. H.T. Lalremsanga from Mizoram University, to elucidate the venom composition of this elusive pit viper.
Contemporary label-free quantitative proteomics identified 106 proteins in the venom of Pope’s Pit Viper, categorized into 12 toxin families. Notably, 60% of its venom comprises enzymes that break down proteins and damage tissue, interfere with blood coagulation, and induce local haemorrhage.
This study explores the venom’s harmful components, which are mostly toxic enzymes and demonstrating their deleterious effects on the victim. For example, snake Venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs), a toxic enzyme of the Viperidae family of snakes including Pope’s Pit Viper, are demonstrated for causing bleeding, tissue breakdown, and blood clotting issues in victims.
The venom also contains enzymes called Serine Proteases (SVSPs), which hinder blood coagulation, a toxic enzyme phospholipases A2 which induce muscle injury and inflammation and, a non-enzymatic toxin Snaclecs (Snake C-type lectins) which affect blood platelet function and blood coagulation.
The absence of species-specific antivenoms complicates the treatment of snakebites in India. Commercial antivenoms counteract the venom of the “Big Four” species, hence leaving patients bitten by pit vipers vulnerable to repercussions. This study underscores the necessity for broad-spectrum or region-specific antivenoms to counteract T. popeiorum venom.
By comprehending the proteomic complexity of Pope’s Pit Viper venom, researchers have established a foundation for venom toxicity, pharmaceutical advancements, and enhanced antivenom compositions. As India endeavours to decrease snakebite mortality by 50% by 2030, such innovative research would facilitate transforming venom studies into life-saving medical treatments. This study was recently published in International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.
A fleet of 19 communication satellites are operational over India and these satellites support the telecommunications, broadband and broadcasting services as well as societal and strategic communications. The space sector reforms has enabled larger participation of non-governmental entities for building/leasing, owning and operating the satellite systems for providing satellite based services. More than 10 satellite operators have shown interest and applied for authorization for providing the satellite capacity over India. With more players in the market, the entire country would get enhanced satellite capacity and the competitive price advantage.
The ground infrastructure (antennas, terminals) for satellite broadband are part of the satellite communication services and the licensed satcom / telecom service providers would deploy them.
Government is encouraging and enabling Indian entities to establish the space assets for broadband services. While NSIL, a CPSE under Department of Space, having plans for deploying new satellites based on user demand, ISRO/DoS have also enabled one Indian private operator with requisite orbit spectrum support to deploy a new broadband satellite.
IN-SPACe has not received any application for establishment and operation of a NGSO satellite constellation similar to Starlink by an Indian operator.
Capacity from all foreign satellites can be provisioned for broadband satellite networks in India only after IN-SPACe authorization. The foreign entities owning and operating broadband satellite networks in the space covering India is governed by international regulations and coordinations. Use of such satellites for services over Indian territory is governed by Indian Space Policy, Telecommunications Act and other regulation & guidelines.
This information was given by Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology, Earth Sciences, MoS PMO, Department of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Department of Space and Department of Atomic Energy, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
DoT collaborates with Railway Protection Force (RPF) for Blocking, Tracing and Recovery of Lost/Stolen Mobile Phones of Passengers Sanchar Saathi (Block Your Lost/Stolen Mobile Handset -CEIR) Service Will Be Integrated with Operations of RPF for Mobile Safety
Posted On: 03 APR 2025 5:11PM by PIB Delhi
As part of its ongoing efforts for ensuring safety and security of the citizens in the digital ecosystem, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has joined hands with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), Ministry of Railways for ensuring mobile safety of the passengers travelling in trains.
Mobile Phones constitute a major portion of items lost or misplaced by passengers in trains and at stations. DoT and RPF will work in collaboration for tracing and recovering lost/stolen mobile phones of train passengers. The Rail Madad app is now being interfaced with the DoT’s Sanchar Saathi platform.
The Sanchar Saathi platform of DoT has the facility of blocking the reported stolen/lost mobile handsets, while Rail Madad app is a mobile application developed by Indian Railways to assist passengers in addressing and resolving their complaints or grievances during their train journeys.
In this direction, the onboarding of 17 Zones and 70+ Divisions of RPF has been started at Sanchar Saathi portal. Now the passengers can lodge complaint about the lost/stolen mobile handset at Rail Madad App. The complaints details will in turn be imported to Sanchar Saathi portal for blocking of lost/stolen mobile handset for preventing its misuse, enabling its tracing and alert generation to the RPF.
A training session was organized for the RPF officers of 17 Divisions of Indian Railways, which was attended by 250+ officers. The officers of LSA field units of DoT also attended the session. In the training session, DoT officials briefed them about the citizen centric Sanchar Saathi portal/App and its features on mobile safety. They were also briefed on various other technological solutions to tackle emerging challenges.
Inaugurating the training session as part of the collaborative effort, Dr Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), in his keynote address, lauded the collaboration and spoke on the key role of technology as an enabler in enhancing security measures. He said, “With the rapid advancement of technology, the role of digital tools in crime prevention and law enforcement is more critical than ever.” He further highlighted that onboarding RPF on Sanchar Saathi portal is a milestone in the journey of protecting the citizens from cyber frauds and misuse of telecom resources.
Shri Manoj Yadav, Director General RPF, in his inaugural address, shared that safety and security of the railway passengers is a key objective of RPF. In last 12 months, RPF has successfully recovered and handed over items worth Rs 84 crores to the railway passengers as part of Operation Aamanat. He further emphasized “The onboarding of RPF at Sanchar Saathi portal will give an assurance of recovery of the lost/stolen handsets to the citizens.”
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has been the backbone of railway security, ensuring the safety of passengers and protecting railway assets with utmost dedication. Since its establishment in 1957, RPF has played a crucial role in securing one of the world’s largest railway networks. Integration with Sanchar Saathi will be a game changer in enhancing mobile safety. State police across the country are doing a commendable job in utilizing the Sanchar Saathi system to recover mobile phones and hand them over to their rightful owners. Till date, using CEIR facility of Sanchar Saathi, about 30 lakh mobile devices have been blocked, out of which around 18 lakh mobile devices have been traced, and 3.87 lakh mobile handsets have been successfully recovered by the police. The state police of Telangana, Maharashtra, and Karnataka have demonstrated outstanding efforts in leveraging this system to enhance public security and service.
Additionally, the DoT encourages citizens to continue reporting lost/stolen mobile phones through the CEIR module of Sanchar Saathi(www.sancharsaathi.gov.in), fostering a collaborative effort to make telecom services more secure and user-friendly. The Department remains dedicated to strict monitoring and prompt action to protect consumer interests.
Citizens can use Sanchar Sathi App to report misuse of telecom resources in cybercrime and cyber frauds. The App can be downloaded from