(1) A manufacturer of equipment that has International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, shall register such IMEI number of such equipment manufactured in India with the Central Government, prior to the first sale of such equipment, in the form as may be specified for such purpose on the portal by that Government.
(2) An importer of equipment that has an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, shall register such IMEI number of such equipment imported into India for sale or testing or research or for any other purpose, with the Central Government, prior to the import of such equipment into India, in the form as may be specified for such purpose on the portal.
(3) No person shall —
(a) intentionally remove, obliterate, change, or alter the unique telecommunication equipment identification number; or
(b) intentionally use, produce, traffic in, have control or custody of, or possess hardware or software related to the telecommunication identifier or telecommunication equipment, knowing it has been configured as specified above.
(4) The Central Government may issue directions to manufacturers of telecommunication equipment bearing International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number to provide assistance as required in relation to tampered telecommunication equipment or IMEI number.
1 (4A) The Central Government may issue directions to manufacturers of telecommunication equipment bearing International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number not to assign IMEIs that are already in use in telecommunication networks in India to new telecommunication equipment that are manufactured in India or imported to India from the date as specified by the Central Government on the portal.]
(5) The Central Government may issue directions to telecommunication entities to block the use of telecommunication equipment with tampered International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number in telecommunication networks or telecommunication services.
2 (6) The Central Government shall, either directly or through an agency authorised by it, maintain a database of IMEIs which are tampered, or whose use has been restricted.
1 Ins. by G.S.R. 771(E), dated 22.10.2025.
2 Ins. by ibid.
(7) A person engaged in the sale and purchase in India of used telecommunication equipment bearing IMEI numbers or its authorised agency shall, prior to such sale or purchase access the database specified in sub-rule (6) on payment of fees as specified on the portal and ensure that it shall not directly or indirectly undertake sale or purchase of any telecommunication equipment bearing IMEI number that is specified in such database.
(8) Every manufacturer or importer of any telecommunication equipment that bears an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number shall ensure compliance with the directions as may be issued by the Central Government for the purpose of giving effect to these rules.]