- Why in news
- On 23 September 2026, PIB issued an explainer on IMEI tampering, citing the Telecommunications Act, 2023 and the duties of manufacturers, importers, sellers and users. It put India's active wireless subscriber base at 1,204.01 million in July 2026.
- What it is
- The IMEI is a unique 15-digit number that identifies a mobile device on a network. Tampering with it lets devices run with altered identities and hampers tracing by police and networks. The Telecommunications Act, 2023 makes tampering with telecom identifiers a criminal offence.
- Offence provision
- Section 42(3)(c) bars tampering with telecommunication identifiers. Section 42(3)(e) bars getting SIMs or identifiers by fraud, cheating or impersonation.
- Penalty
- Imprisonment up to three years, a fine up to ₹50 lakh, or both.
- Registration portal
- Manufacturers and importers register IMEIs on the Device Setu–ICDR portal before sale or import.
- SIM fraud offence
- Section 42(3)(e) bars getting SIMs or identifiers through fraud, cheating or impersonation.
- Nature of offence
- Such offences are cognizable and non-bailable under Section 42(7).
- Abetment
- Under Section 42(6), those who abet or promote the offences face the same punishment.
- Sanchar Saathi
- Citizens can check a handset's brand, model and manufacturer details through the Sanchar Saathi platform.
Don’t confuse with IMEI vs TAC: The IMEI is the full 15-digit device number. The TAC is only its first eight digits and marks the model.
Don’t confuse with CEIR vs ICDR: CEIR is used to block lost or stolen phones. Device Setu–ICDR is used by manufacturers and importers to register IMEIs.
Don’t confuse with IMEI vs SIM: IMEI identifies the handset; the SIM identifies the subscriber. Tampering with the first and fraudulently getting the second are separate offences.
Don’t confuse with Section 42(3)(c) vs 42(3)(e): (c) covers tampering with identifiers; (e) covers obtaining SIMs or identifiers by fraud, cheating or impersonation.
Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.
Why it matters
- Traceable device identity helps police trace stolen phones and telecom fraud.
- Registration duties across the supply chain protect consumers and network security.
- Strengthens deterrence against cyber fraud and untraceable devices.
- Makes subscribers responsible for SIMs issued in their name.
Problems
- Tampering tools and SIM boxes are cheap and hard to detect across a vast grey market.
- Used-phone sellers and users may be unaware of verification duties.
- Enforcement across a large informal handset and repair market is hard.
- Public awareness of liability for loaning SIMs is low.
Way forward
- Strengthen IMEI checks at import and retail, and enforce penalties.
- Run user awareness drives on Sanchar Saathi verification.
- Strengthen IMEI checks and data sharing between DoT, operators and police.
- Run awareness drives and promote Sanchar Saathi.
Put in your answer
Subscriber base: Use 1,204.01 million active wireless subscribers (July 2026) to show scale of the risk.
Non-bailable offence: Telecom identifier offences are cognizable and non-bailable, showing the Act's strict stance on telecom security.
Subscriber liability: Lending or renting SIMs used in cyber fraud can make the original subscriber liable.
- 2024Mains GS3 · Q20Security challenges of social media and encrypted messaging; remedies
- 2020Mains GS3 · Q9Types of cyber crimes and measures to fight them
UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.
No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Lasting security topic on device identity and telecom law, but the release gives few statement-ready facts. Laws are 7% of news-linked Prelims questions.
Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.