According to Central Equipment Identity Register's (CEIR) dashboard data as of September 4, 2026, 58.92 lakh missing mobile phones have been blocked, while 36.69 lakh devices were traced and only 13.36 lakh were recovered. The latest government data reveals that 36.41% of traced mobile phones were given back to their owners, highlighting significant challenges in recovering lost or stolen devices. The CEIR data shows that tracing a phone does not necessarily mean physical retrieval, as the system can only identify devices being used on mobile networks.
State-wise data reveals stark disparities in mobile phone recovery rates across India. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest recovery rate at 47.38%, with 1,56,782 phones recovered out of 3,30,899 traced devices. Delhi, in contrast, recorded a much lower recovery rate of 7.69%, with only 50,867 out of 6.61 lakh traced mobile phones recovered, while 10.47 lakh mobile phones have been blocked in Delhi. Maharashtra reported 4,17,021 phones traced with a 41% recovery rate, meaning 1,71,139 phones have been physically found and retrieved. The CEIR data shows that 10.47 lakh mobiles have been blocked in the National Capital Territory alone.
Recent developments highlight the serious consequences of data leaks, with personal data of around 40 million women in India reportedly being openly sold on the dark web for just $500-$600. According to cybersecurity expert Bhaumik Merchant, this data includes highly sensitive details such as names, addresses, email IDs, and phone numbers. The leaked data appears to belong to a very large Indian e-commerce clothing brand, with hackers asking around $500-$600 for it. Nearly 90% of buyers are cyber scammers who use women's preferences to send fake offers such as cosmetic products worth ₹2,000 for ₹500. The data is organized state-wise, with Delhi and metropolitan cities commanding the highest prices due to larger Tier-1, economically affluent populations where companies find it easier to sell products to women.
When users realize their mobile phone is missing, they must act quickly to protect sensitive data and prevent unauthorized access. According to the report, users should immediately lock and wipe the device's data using remote tracking tools to protect personal information. If remote access is unavailable, they should contact the telecom operator to block the SIM and handset through the official CEIR or Sanchar Saathi system. Additionally, users must inform banks and payment service providers, disable mobile banking access, sign out of main accounts, and change passwords for email, social media platforms, and banking apps. As per the latest data, a lost phone should be treated almost like a lost wallet, with the first priority being to contact the telecom operator and block the SIM, followed by blocking the handset through official systems.
