DoT comes up with CEIR portal for blocking and tracing of stolen or lost mobile phones

Now it becomes easy for Delhi-NCR residents to trace or block their lost or stolen devices with the new initiative launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It has come up with the Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR) portal that will enable blocking as well as tracing of stolen or lost mobile phones.

Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad has launched this portal and said safety and security of phones are crucial given the country’s technological strides and digital prowess.

This portal will facilitate people with blocking of stolen or lost mobile phones by customers, blocking of such mobile phones across various mobile networks, allowing services to other existing customers having mobile phones with the same International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, sharing of traceability data with police authorities, as well as unblocking of recovered phones. The CEIR is a centralised register or database and allows an individual phone to be blocked even if it is on a cloned IMEI number.

How to use it?

A person who has lost his device or it has been stolen can visit CEIR web portal at www.ceir.gov.in and submit details in a prescribed format. A person can also get the device blocked (or unblocked) by visiting the specified outlets of their telecom operator.

He can file an FIR with the police, and keep a copy of the report.

One can get a duplicate SIM Card issued for the lost number from the specified telecom service provider.

To block the IMEI number of their lost/stolen device one can visit the web portal, fill out the request registration form and attach a copy of the FIR and address proof.

One needs to submit the form and note down the generated ‘Request ID’ for future reference. It is advised to keep the ‘Request ID’ safe as it would be needed for unblocking the IMEI in future.

In September, it was launched in Mumbai. It is expected that 5 crore mobile subscribers will be benefitted in Delhi-NCR. It will be extended to other parts of the country in 2020.