New Delhi: The government has taken a bold step to curb the misuse of lost or stolen smartphones in India. All its mobile phone companies will have to register the IMEI number of each handset made in India on the Indian Counterfeited Device Restriction portal. Reports in the past have highlighted that lakhs of smartphones and feature phones in India come with fake IMEI numbers or duplicate IMEI numbers here.
Apart from this, it is not difficult to buy a fake copy of a popular handset in India. The new rule aims to ensure that all mobile phones sold in India have a valid IMEI number that can be digitally tracked. Apart from this, this rule will also apply to imported smartphones as well as top-end iPhones, and Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
Black marketing of smartphones will be curbed
The new process will help users to block if their smartphone or feature phone is lost or stolen so that it cannot be misused. This is also expected to curb the black marketing of smartphones in India. Notably, in June 2020, the Meerut Police revealed that 13,500 Vivo smartphones had the same IMEI number and this is not the case with just one brand. Rather, such cases have been seen in other Chinese brands before.
Must register IMEI number
Let us tell you that the government has asked the smartphone makers to set the IMEI number of every smartphone made in India from January 1, 2023, under the Indian Counterfeited Device Restriction.
Portal (https://icdr.ceir.gov.in) has to be registered. This work will have to be done before selling the phone.
IMEI number is useful in tracking criminals
Significantly, the IMEI number is a unique number and is used to track down criminals, whereas on the one hand the SIM card can be changed or destroyed. At the same time, the IMEI number is hard coded and through this, it becomes easier for law enforcement agencies to deal with crime.
How to Check IMEI Number
If you are buying a used mobile phone or a new headset from anywhere, always check whether the device has got the IMEI number. Any device found without an IMEI number is fake and you should avoid buying it. Users can check the IMEI number by dialing *#06#. Let us know that there will be two unique IMEI numbers for dual SIM smartphones.
What is ICDR System?
In 2021, the government introduced the ICDR system for the issuance of IMEI certificates for the import of mobiles through various customs ports. The new system has become operational on 1 January 2020. The new system for registration and generation of IMEI certificates can be accessed through the web portal https://icdr.ceir.gov.in. Currently does not charge any fee for the registration of IMEI certificates through this web portal.
The new system then replaced the old IMEI cloning and duplication restriction system, which was operated and maintained by the Mobile Standards Alliance of India (MSAI). Hence MSAI is not authorized to register, manufacture or issue IMEI certificates.
Apart from this, the government has also advised that IMEI certificates obtained or issued from any other source are invalid. The government has not authorized/appointed any agent or third party to assist the applicant with the registration and IMEI certificate generation process through the above-mentioned web portal.
