System developed indigenously under the guidance of Union Home Minister Amit Shah
From Reactive to Proactive: India Strengthens Disaster Response with Cell Broadcast System
Instant Alerts, Zero Delay: India Launches Nationwide Cell Broadcast System for Public Safety
Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia today launched the Cell Broadcast System (CBS), an indigenous technology developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) under the guidance of Union Home Minister Shri Amit Shah. This initiative marks a significant step towards strengthening India’s emergency communication systems and enhancing public safety infrastructure.
Distinguished dignitaries present on the dais included Govind Mohan, Union Home Secretary; Amit Agrawal, Secretary (Telecom); Piyush Anand, DG, NDRF; Manish Bhardwaj, Secretary, NDMA; Anuj Sharma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs; and Krishna Vatsa, Member, NDMA.
Speaking on this landmark achievement of DoT, Ministry of Home Affairs, NDMA and C-DoT, Uniom Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia said, “The launch of the Cell Broadcast System marks a transformative step in India’s disaster management framework, reflecting our shift from a reactive to a proactive approach in safeguarding citizens. By leveraging advanced telecom technologies, CBS enables near real-time, geo-targeted alerts to reach millions instantly, ensuring that no individual is left behind. This indigenous, globally benchmarked solution strengthens our preparedness, enhances response capabilities, and reinforces our commitment to building a safer, more resilient India.”
During the event, a presentation on disaster preparedness and ongoing initiatives of NDMA was made to the Union Minister by Shri Anuj Sharma, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs.
Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS) is a telecom-enabled public warning system that enables authorities to broadcast simultaneous, geo-targeted alerts to mobile devices within a defined area. Integrated with the CAP-based SACHET platform, it allows rapid and standardized dissemination of alerts. It overcomes the limitations of traditional SMS-based systems, ensuring that critical information can be disseminated quickly and efficiently to large populations within targeted areas.
As part of the launch, a nationwide test of the system was successfully conducted today, during which emergency alert messages were broadcasted to mobile phones across the country, accompanied by a distinctive alert tone. This demonstration marks a major milestone in ensuring timely dissemination of alerts during disasters and emergency situations.
Recognizing the invaluable contribution and selfless service rendered in the field of disaster management in India, Shri Scindia also awarded the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar (SCBAPP) to individuals and organizations both. Guidelines and Handbook on Disaster Management were also released on this occasion.
CBS offers precise geo-targeting capabilities, enabling alerts to be disseminated at the level of individual cell towers or clusters, while also allowing scalability to cover larger geographic areas. Messages are delivered in near real-time, reaching users within seconds without any queuing delays. Designed for high reliability, the system remains unaffected by network congestion, ensuring uninterrupted communication during critical situations. It provides universal reach by covering all mobile users within the targeted area, including those who are roaming, and these alerts cannot be disabled by users. Additionally, alerts are delivered as priority notifications, appearing as pop-up messages accompanied by distinct loud tones, with message text read aloud on supported mobile handsets.
The system enables near real-time, multilingual alerts that provide critical time for protective action in disasters such as flash floods and gas leaks. Supported across 2G to 5G networks, it ensures wide reach in both urban and rural areas, including last-mile and roaming populations. By enabling direct, official communication, it strengthens disaster management, drives quick response, reduces panic, and enhances public trust and compliance.
Pan-India trials of the Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS) under the CAP-based SACHET platform have been successfully completed, with training conducted across all States and UTs. The system has proven effective during disasters, reaching millions across Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and Uttarakhand, and is now also being used for the Char Dham Yatra. C-DoT has also successfully demonstrated it internationally in countries such as Mauritius, Cambodia, El Salvador, and Sri Lanka, aligning with the United Nations “Early Warnings for All” initiative.
