India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has implemented a comprehensive set of measures in 2024 to combat mobile number spoofing and strengthen telecommunications security across the country, building on its Sanchar Saathi initiative launched last year.
On October 22, 2024, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia launched the International Incoming Spoofed Calls Prevention System. The system has shown remarkable results, reducing spoofed international calls from 1.35 crore to 6 lakhs within two months of implementation. The advancement follows the earlier launch of the Caller Name Display (CNAP) system, which was designed to combat domestic spam calls.
The system verifies Indian SIMs through the Indian Telecom Service Providers’ (TSPs) international long-distance network. When Indian subscribers travel internationally, the roaming activation enables the TSP to verify whether calls from +91 numbers originate legitimately from abroad or within India. The Digital Intelligence Unit of DoT has worked with TSPs to establish an integrated verification system, supporting the department’s broader efforts to remove caller ID spoofing tools from social media platforms.
TSPs have launched public awareness measures, including labeling incoming international calls and distributing safety tips to subscribers. The government and telecommunications providers are encouraging practices such as blocking unknown international numbers and maintaining awareness of country codes, similar to Airtel’s international call alert system implemented earlier.
The DoT has also implemented the Digital Integrated Verification System for new SIM card issuance. The system requires Aadhaar-based KYC and biometric authentication for SIM acquisition, along with Point of Sale verification. Starting April 1, 2025, only registered PoS outlets complying with DoT’s August 31, 2023 guidelines will be authorized to sell new SIM cards, a measure introduced after the discovery of significant KYC document fraud networks.
Data from the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In) indicates 607,220 cybersecurity incidents, including 15,651 hacked Indian websites through June. Cybercrime cases have increased steadily, with 21,796 cases in 2017, 27,248 in 2018, and 44,546 in 2019. The government reported over 93,000 cybercrime cases between 2017 and 2019, including 46 cyber terrorism incidents. The rise in cybercrime has led to the launch of additional security measures, including a searchable cyber scammer database to combat digital fraud.
Sources: National Herald, CyberPeace, Identosphere, BharatNet, The420
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