Govt issues new rule to block stolen and fake smartphones

In order to prevent the misuse of lost or stolen smartphones in India, all mobile phone manufacturers are required to register the IMEI number of every handset manufactured in India with the Indian Counterfeited Device Restriction (ICDR) portal before the first sale of a newly launched mobile phone, starting January 1, 2023.

The new rule aims to make sure that all mobile phones that are sold in India have a legit IMEI number that can be tracked digitally. The new process will also help users in blocking their stolen or lost mobile phones, to prevent its misuse.

Previous reports had highlighted that there are lakhs of smartphones and feature phones that come with fake IMEI numbers or even duplicate IMEI numbers in India. Also, it isn’t difficult to buy copycats of popular handsets in India that mostly arrive from China.

Not just Made-In-India phones, this rule will apply even for imported smartphones and top-end iPhones, Samsung Galaxy smartphones among others. This rule is also expected to arrest the black marketing of smartphones in India.

The IMEI number is unique and is used to track criminals. While the SIM card can be changed or destroyed, the IMEI number is hard coded and making it easier for law enforcement agencies to tackle crime. Any device without an IMEI number is fake and people should avoid buying it. To check the IMEI number, simply dial *#06# to get the details. For dual SIM smartphones, there will be two unique IMEI numbers.