Cell Broadcast Alert System launched for real-time disaster warnings

Key facts

• Union Minister for Communications and Development of North Eastern Region, Jyotiraditya Scindia, launched the Cell Broadcast Alert System under the guidance of Union Home and Cooperation Minister, Amit Shah.
• The system was developed with the support of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) to deliver critical information related to disasters and public safety directly to mobile phones.
• The indigenous Integrated Alert System SACHET, developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), powers the alerts based on the Common Alerting Protocol recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
• A nationwide test of the system was successfully conducted on 2 May 2026 by the NDMA, where mobile users received emergency alerts in the form of flash SMS accompanied by a loud alarm tone and a flashing message.
• Following the testing phase, the NDMA will operationalise the system to provide alerts for tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes, and man-made hazards like gas leaks or chemical incidents in multiple Indian languages.