The Government of India has initiated nationwide testing of an indigenous Cell Broadcast (CB)-based alert system to ensure faster delivery of emergency information to citizens during disasters. As part of the testing phase, people may receive test messages on their mobile phones in English, Hindi, and regional languages. Authorities have clarified that these are only test alerts and require no action.
The initiative is being carried out by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) under the Ministry of Communications, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The system is integrated with the Integrated Alert System “SACHET”, developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
Based on the internationally recognized Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), the system is already operational across all 36 States and Union Territories. So far, it has been used to send over 134 billion SMS alerts in more than 19 Indian languages during natural disasters, weather warnings, and cyclonic events.
What is Cell Broadcast Technology?
Cell Broadcast enables authorities to send messages simultaneously to all mobile devices within a specific geographic area. This ensures near real-time dissemination of alerts during critical situations such as earthquakes, tsunamis, lightning strikes, gas leaks, or chemical hazards.
Why is the Testing Being Conducted?
The current nationwide testing aims to evaluate the system’s performance and reliability before its official launch. During this period, users may receive the same test message multiple times.
How Will Users Receive These Alerts?
Test messages will only be received on mobile phones where Cell Broadcast test alerts are enabled. Users can manage these settings through:
Settings → Safety & Emergency → Wireless Emergency Alerts → Test Alerts
Government Advisory
The government has urged citizens to remain calm and cooperate during the testing phase. All such messages are part of system validation and do not require any response.
Once fully operational, the Cell Broadcast system will deliver emergency alerts across all mobile devices, regardless of user settings, ensuring wider and more effective public reach during real emergencies.
