The award was presented during the 104th SKOCH Summit, organised around the theme “Resourcing Viksit Bharat.” The SKOCH Awards recognise individuals, institutions and projects across government and private sectors that demonstrate excellence in governance, technology-led development and citizen-centric innovation.
C-DOT’s recognition places it among leading national initiatives that have delivered measurable impact in areas such as technology, public safety, digital governance and grassroots development.
What is the Cell Broadcast Solution?
The Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS) developed by C-DOT is a unified disaster and emergency alerting platform that enables near real-time dissemination of critical information directly to mobile phones in a geographically targeted area through cellular networks.
Unlike traditional SMS-based alerts, the cell broadcast mechanism ensures rapid, simultaneous delivery of messages to all compatible devices within an affected region, significantly reducing delays during emergencies.
Integrated National Disaster Alert Ecosystem
C-DOT’s platform integrates multiple disaster alert generation agencies on a single system. These include the India Meteorological Department for weather-related warnings, the Central Water Commission for flood alerts, INCOIS for tsunami and ocean-related events, DGRE for landslides, and the Forest Survey of India for forest fire alerts.
The system also brings together all mobile network operators for message delivery, while State Disaster Management Authorities and the National Disaster Management Authority oversee approval and response coordination.
Multi-Lingual, Cost-Effective and Indigenous
The Cell Broadcast Solution supports alerts in 21 Indian languages, ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for diverse populations. The system is fully automated, cost-effective and indigenously developed, aligning with India’s push for self-reliance in critical digital infrastructure.
By enabling geo-targeted, multi-hazard alerts, the platform has significantly improved the efficiency of disaster risk reduction and emergency response across the country.
Aligned with Global Standards and SDGs
The initiative aligns with the United Nations’ “Early Warnings for All” programme and adheres to the International Telecommunication Union’s Common Alerting Protocol. It also contributes to the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by strengthening resilience and protecting lives.
Experts note that the system enhances India’s capacity-building efforts in disaster preparedness and places the country among a select group of nations with advanced cell broadcast technology.
C-DOT Leadership Reacts
Speaking at the event, C-DOT CEO Dr. Rajkumar Upadhyay said the award recognises the organisation’s mission to place technology at the service of citizens, especially those in remote and vulnerable regions. He noted that the solution strengthens public safety by ensuring timely dissemination of critical information during disasters.
Dr. Upadhyay added that the recognition reinforces C-DOT’s commitment to building resilient digital infrastructure, advancing disaster-risk reduction and supporting India’s vision of inclusive and secure information delivery under the “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” initiative.
C-DOT’s Broader Role in Telecom Innovation
Established under the Department of Telecommunications, C-DOT has played a pivotal role in developing indigenous telecom technologies that support flagship initiatives such as Digital India and Make in India.
The organisation is currently engaged in cutting-edge research in areas including 5G, 6G, quantum communications, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, reinforcing India’s position in future telecom ecosystems.