Union Home Minister Amit Shah, along with Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, will launch a nationwide mobile‑based disaster communication system designed to deliver emergency alerts faster and more effectively to citizens. Developed by the Department of Telecommunications in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), the initiative is built around the Integrated Alert System, SACHET, which is already operational across all 36 States and Union Territories. Created by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C‑DOT), SACHET uses SMS‑based alerts to send geo‑targeted warnings in line with the Common Alerting Protocol recommended by the International Telecommunication Union. The system has already proven its utility, with more than 134 billion SMS alerts disseminated in 19 Indian languages covering cyclones, extreme weather, and other disasters, underscoring the importance of technology‑driven early warning systems in saving lives.
To further strengthen disaster response, the government has introduced Cell Broadcast (CB) technology alongside the existing SMS system. Unlike traditional messaging, CB enables simultaneous transmission of alerts to all mobile devices in a defined geographic area, ensuring near‑instant delivery even during network congestion. Officials said the integration of SMS and CB will make India’s emergency communication framework more robust, real‑time, and accessible during crises such as earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning strikes, flash floods, and industrial hazards. A nationwide testing exercise will accompany the rollout, with mobile users in capital cities including Delhi‑NCR receiving test alerts in English, Hindi, and regional languages. The Ministry clarified that these are only test messages and urged citizens not to panic, emphasizing that no action is required from the public.