India Blocks Over 1.36 Crore Fraudulent Mobile Numbers; BSNL Subscriber Base Rises Amid Telecom Reforms

Sanchar Saathi portal empowers citizens; indigenous 4G stack operational across 75,000 BSNL towers

New Delhi, July 31 Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that over 13.6 million fraudulent mobile numbers have been disconnected based on citizen feedback, as part of the government’s intensified crackdown on telecom fraud and digital scams.

Speaking in Parliament, Scindia detailed a series of tech-enabled measures launched under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to curb cyber fraud in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, banks, and police forces. A key highlight is the Sanchar Saathi portal, launched in May 2023, which has received over 15.5 crore visits, alongside 44 lakh downloads of its mobile app, launched in January 2025.

The portal has enabled:

• Blocking of 5.5 lakh handsets and 20,000 bulk SMS senders
• Disconnection of 82 lakh fake numbers via AI-powered ASTR system
• Flagging of 3.7 lakh high-risk individuals through the Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) system
• Deactivation of 24 lakh WhatsApp accounts linked to suspicious activity
• Disabling of 26 lakh international roaming SIMs used in overseas frauds

Scindia emphasized that 1.35 crore spoof calls were blocked on day one of a new international call filtering system, reducing spoof calls by 97%, while mandatory “International Call” labels are now required on foreign-origin numbers.

BSNL Revival, Indigenous 4G Stack Gains Momentum

The Minister also highlighted the government’s reform push to revive public sector telecom operators, particularly BSNL, whose subscriber base grew from 8.55 crore to 9.1 crore over the past fiscal year. The increase follows a ₹3.22 lakh crore revival package, with decentralised strategy plans underway across BSNL’s 32 telecom circles.

In a major technological leap, India’s indigenous 4G stack—developed by C-DoT, Tejas Networks, and TCS—has reached 75,000 operational towers out of the 95,000 sanctioned. Over ₹20,000 crore has already been invested in infrastructure, with 4G optimization ongoing and 5G rollout on the horizon.

Scindia concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to fraud prevention, public sector efficiency, and establishing India as a global telecom technology leader. He encouraged citizens to actively use the Sanchar Saathi portal to monitor and secure their digital presence.