Get ready for some serious national pride as we take you on a journey of the groundbreaking Sanchar Saathi portal. This platform is a testament to the marvel of Indian technological prowess and the collective endeavour to ensure a safe digital environment for all. Here, we've got you covered on all things you need to know about this revolutionary online portal designed to keep track of and block lost or stolen mobile phones.

Brought to you by the Department of Telecom, the Sanchar Saathi portal is your new digital buddy. And let me tell you, it's not just a name. Like a true friend, it's got your back in those dreaded times when your mobile device decides to take an unplanned sabbatical. Our Union telecom minister, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has articulated that the portal is designed to protect users from being unsuspecting victims of mobile device theft and fraud. Now, who doesn't like the sound of that?

You may be wondering, "what makes Sanchar Saathi so special?" Well, the heart of this portal is the CEIR (Central Equipment Identity Register). Now, if you're unfortunate enough to lose your phone, all you need to do is hop on to the portal. A simple identity verification and an undertaking later, the portal will swing into action, coordinating with law enforcement agencies and telecom service providers to block your lost mobile phone. It's like a superhero, springing into action at the first sign of trouble!

The real heroes behind this groundbreaking technology are the brilliant minds at C-DOT, the technology development arm under the Department of Telecom. They've not only developed this innovative solution, but have also added a feature to check the usage of cloned mobile phones across all telecom networks. Imagine that, an all-seeing eye safeguarding our devices!

The team at C-DOT has been diligently running the pilot of this technology in telecom circles including Delhi, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and the North East. The mission? To ensure a seamless nationwide rollout, and by the looks of it, they're doing a terrific job.

Now, let's talk about those crafty miscreants. You know, the ones who think they're slick by stealing mobile phones and changing the IMEI number to evade tracking and blocking. Well, they're in for a nasty surprise. With the combined powers of telecom operators and the CEIR system, tracking and blocking such devices is a walk in the park. Plus, with the CEIR's capability to block any cloned mobile phones on the network, it's checkmate for these fraudsters.

India, in its wisdom, has made it mandatory to disclose the IMEI—a 15-digit unique numeric identifier of mobile devices—before their sale in the country. Our telecom networks will have access to a list of approved IMEI numbers, checking the entry of any unauthorized mobile phones on their network. It's a new era for transparency and security in the mobile phone market.

And now, the moment you've been waiting for: a comprehensive guide to reclaim your lost phone using the Sanchar Saathi portal:

1. Set forth on your digital journey by visiting https://sarcharsaathi.gov.in.
2. Look for and click on 'Register here'.
3. In the next step, you'll find options to locate your stolen or lost device. Go ahead and click on it.
4. Now, it's time for some details. Enter your name, mobile number, IMEI number, and device's specifics.
5. Keep your purchase invoice handy, as you'll need to upload it.
6. The next step requires you to enter details like city, district, state, and the date when your device went missing.
7. To verify your details, you'll have to use an OTP sent to your mobile number.
8. Once verified, click on the 'Create Account' button to submit your registration.
9. The next step is to log in to your account using your ID and password.
10. To search your lost/stolen phone, click on the 'IMEI Search' button and enter the necessary details. The portal will show your phone's location if it's switched on.
11. To block your phone, click on 'Block Stolen/Lost Phone', enter your phone number, and click on 'Block'.

Ever since its nationwide launch on May 16, CEIR, a vital component of the DoT's Sanchar Saathi portal, has traced 285,000 lost or stolen mobile phones and blocked 680,000 devices. But it doesn't stop there. The government platform is a digital fortress that protects mobile phone users from various frauds such as identity theft, forged KYC, theft of mobile devices, and banking frauds.

Even though the recovery numbers of 20,771 devices might seem low at first glance, we must acknowledge the difference made by our diligent police forces. Sure, the portal employs advanced technology to track and block devices, but the on-ground police work is pivotal in actually recovering them.

But let's end this on a lighter note. For all you UPA fans out there, here's something to ponder. If you're worried about your devices taking an unexpected vacation, remember the UPA's infamous 2G scam? Yeah, those were the good old days. Now, we're talking about tracking and blocking mobile phones, not just their bandwidth! How times change, right?