The Government of India is conducting a nationwide test of its new mobile-based disaster communication system today, May 2. The exercise is being carried out by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), with emergency alerts set to be sent simultaneously to millions of mobile phones across the country.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia are scheduled to officially launch the indigenous alert system, marking a major step in strengthening India’s disaster preparedness network.
SACHET System Rolled Out Nationwide
The initiative, called SACHET (National Disaster Alert Portal), has been designed to deliver near-instant emergency warnings to citizens during critical situations. While the system was earlier tested in selected regions including Delhi-NCR, today’s exercise is being conducted across all 36 States and Union Territories on a much larger scale.
Ahead of the drill, the NDMA issued SMS advisories informing people that the “Cell Broadcast Alert” received on their phones is only a test message. Authorities have urged citizens not to panic, clarifying that no action is required upon receiving the alert.
How the New Alert Technology Works
Unlike regular SMS services that may slow down during heavy network traffic, the new system uses Cell Broadcast (CB) technology developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT). The technology allows authorities to send emergency alerts instantly to a large number of users within a specific geographical area.
Key features of the system include geo-targeted alerts, simultaneous delivery to thousands of devices, and loud audio-visual warnings that can override silent mode on mobile phones. The alerts are designed to immediately grab attention during emergencies.
Boosting India’s Disaster Response System
The platform is based on the globally recognised Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), recommended by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Officials say the system will help reduce casualties and property damage during natural disasters such as earthquakes, cyclones, tsunamis, and even industrial accidents like gas leaks.
So far, the government has already issued more than 134 billion SMS-based disaster alerts in over 19 Indian languages. With the introduction of Cell Broadcast technology, authorities expect even faster communication during emergencies.
What Citizens May Receive
People in major cities and state capitals may receive a message stating: “India launches Cell Broadcast using indigenous technology, for instant disaster alerting service for its citizens. Alert citizens, safe nation. This is a test message.”
The alerts will be sent in English, Hindi, and regional languages depending on the location. Officials have once again clarified that the notification is only part of a nationwide testing exercise and not a real emergency.