In today’s digital era, where mobile phones play an integral role in our lives, it is essential to safeguard users from various fraudulent activities. Recognizing this need, the Union Minister of Communications recently launched the Sanchar Saathi portal. This citizen-centric initiative by the Department of Telecom aims to ensure the safety and security of users by providing valuable services and tools. Let’s delve into the key features and significance of this portal.
Sanchar Saathi Portal: Enhancing User Protection
Know Your Mobile: The Sanchar Saathi portal offers a “Know Your Mobile” module, allowing citizens to verify the genuineness of their mobile devices. With the help of the International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, which uniquely identifies each mobile device, users can determine the legitimacy of their devices. This feature assists network providers in locating stolen or lost devices.
Centralized Equipment Identity Register (CEIR): CEIR is a citizen-centric portal integrated with Sanchar Saathi. It serves as a valuable tool for tracing lost or stolen mobile devices. By blocking such devices across all telecom networks in India, CEIR ensures that they cannot be used within the country. Additionally, law enforcement agencies can leverage the system to trace stolen devices, enhancing the chances of recovery.
Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection (TAFCOP): TAFCOP is another significant module offered by the Sanchar Saathi portal. It enables mobile subscribers to verify the number of connections registered in their name using paper-based documents. This empowers users to report fraudulent connections and block unnecessary ones, ensuring greater control over their mobile connections.
ASTR:
Artificial Intelligence for Subscriber Verification ASTR, which stands for “Artificial Intelligence and Facial Recognition powered Solution for Telecom SIM Subscriber Verification,” is a cutting-edge tool integrated within the Sanchar Saathi portal. ASTR utilizes facial recognition and artificial intelligence to identify multiple connections associated with a single person. This helps prevent cyber frauds by detecting and blocking potential fraudulent mobile connections.
Working of ASTR:
ASTR’s facial recognition capabilities are based on convolutional neural network (CNN) models. These models encode human faces in subscriber images, accounting for variations in tilt, angle, opaqueness, and image quality. ASTR compares faces in its database and groups similar ones together. It concludes faces to be identical if they match to the extent of at least 97.5%. ASTR’s algorithm then employs fuzzy logic to find approximate matches for subscriber names, further enhancing accuracy.
Significance of Sanchar Saathi:
In India, with a staggering 117 crore subscribers, mobile phones have become indispensable, serving not only communication purposes but also facilitating banking, entertainment, e-learning, healthcare, and accessing government services. Given the widespread usage and reliance on mobile phones, protecting users from identity theft, forged KYC documents, mobile device theft, and banking frauds is of utmost importance. The Sanchar Saathi portal addresses these concerns by providing tools and services that empower citizens to safeguard their mobile connections and personal information.
Important points:
- 📱 Know Your Mobile:
- Verify genuineness of mobile devices using IMEI numbers.
- Helps track stolen or lost devices.
- Mandatory registration of IMEI for all Indian-made handsets.
- 🚫 Centralized Equipment Identity Register (CEIR):
- Traces and blocks lost or stolen mobile devices.
- Prevents usage of such devices in India.
- Assists law enforcement agencies in device tracing and recovery.
- 🕵️ Telecom Analytics for Fraud Management and Consumer Protection (TAFCOP):
- Allows users to check mobile connections registered in their name.
- Reports fraudulent connections and blocks unnecessary ones.
- Enhances user control over mobile connections.
- 🤖 ASTR: Artificial Intelligence for Subscriber Verification:
- Utilizes facial recognition and AI to identify multiple connections.
- Detects and blocks potential fraudulent mobile connections.
- Limits legitimate mobile connections to nine per individual.
- 💡 Significance of Sanchar Saathi:
- India’s second-largest telecom ecosystem with 117 crore subscribers.
- Mobile phones used for communication, banking, entertainment, etc.
- Protects users from identity theft, forged KYC, mobile device theft, and banking frauds.
- 👨💼 Launch by Union Minister of Communications:
- Demonstrates government commitment to user safety and security.
- Provides tools and services for citizens to safeguard their mobile connections.
- Builds a secure digital ecosystem in India.
Why In News
The launch of the Sanchar Saathi portal by the Union Minister of Communications marks a significant step towards prioritizing the safety and security of users in the digital realm. This innovative platform aims to empower individuals by providing them with resources and tools to navigate and protect themselves in the evolving landscape of communication technologies.
MCQs about The Sanchar Saathi Portal
-
What is the purpose of the Sanchar Saathi portal?
A. Ensuring safety and security of the environment
B. Ensuring safety and security of the users
C. Ensuring efficient communication infrastructure
D. Ensuring high-speed internet connectivity
-
What does the Sanchar Saathi portal provide to individuals?
A. Resources and tools for digital communication
B. Resources and tools for physical fitness
C. Resources and tools for financial management
D. Resources and tools for transportation services
-
Who does the Sanchar Saathi portal aim to empower?
A. Government officials
B. Business owners
C. Students
D. Individuals
Boost up your confidence by appearing our Weekly Current Affairs Multiple Choice Questions
