DoT, FIU-IND Sign Landmark MoU to Strengthen India’s Fight Against Cyber Crimes and Financial Frauds
The MoU was signed by Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Dy. Director General (AI & Digital Intelligence Unit – DIU), DoT, and Amit Mohan Govil, Director, FIU-IND.
New Delhi, September 26: In a major push to secure India’s fast-growing digital economy, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the Financial Intelligence Unit-India (FIU-IND) on Thursday signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enhance real-time information sharing and coordination in combating cyber crimes and financial frauds.
The MoU was signed by Sanjeev Kumar Sharma, Dy. Director General (AI & Digital Intelligence Unit – DIU), DoT, and Amit Mohan Govil, Director, FIU-IND, in the presence of Dr. Neeraj Mittal, Secretary (Telecom), and Arvind Shrivastava, Secretary (Revenue).
Key Features of the Partnership
- Real-Time Risk Data Exchange: DoT will share its Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL) data with FIU-IND, while FIU-IND will share mobile numbers linked to suspicious financial transactions and money mule activities.
- Fraud Risk Indicators (FRI): Both agencies will exchange FRI data that classify mobile numbers as medium, high, or very high risk, helping financial institutions add an extra layer of security for digital payments.
- Secure Technology Platforms: Data sharing will be facilitated through DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) and FIU-IND’s Finnex 2.0 portal, enabling seamless, system-based exchange of intelligence.
Boost to Cybersecurity
The collaboration aims to strengthen India’s ability to:
- Prevent Financial Crimes by linking telecom intelligence with financial intelligence.
- Safeguard Digital Transactions through proactive risk checks on flagged mobile numbers.
- Move from Reactive to Proactive Action using FRI analytics, supported by DoT’s Sanchar Saathi and other AI-based tools.
DoT’s Digital Intelligence Platform already connects with 36 State/UT police departments, central law enforcement agencies, SEBI, NPCI, FIU-IND, and over 650 banks and financial institutions. The new partnership expands this ecosystem and builds on the government’s efforts that have already disconnected 2.84 crore fraudulent mobile connections and prevented 48 lakh transactions, saving nearly ₹140 crore in potential fraud.
Looking Ahead
The MoU will enable the development of standard operating procedures, strengthen fraud detection analytics, and provide red-flag indicators to financial institutions. Continuous consultation between the two agencies will ensure the framework evolves with emerging cyber threats.
Officials stressed that the partnership marks a new era of collaborative intelligence sharing, reinforcing India’s commitment to protecting citizens and businesses from digital financial crimes while enhancing trust in the nation’s booming digital economy.
