Reliance Industries-owned Jio has launched the JioBharat Safety First capabilities to its feature handsets, designed to keep families connected and secure.

“As tech progresses and people progress in life, the need to connect with all family members, including children, the elderly, and others, only grows,” says Sunil Dutt, president, Reliance Jio Infocomm.

The phones start from ₹799 and, with the latest safety shield capabilities, target children, senior citizens, and others who need simple, reliable communication with safety oversight.

The phone offers monitoring and usage management tools, a battery that lasts up to seven days, and integrates with the JioThings app on both Android and iOS for remote tracking and management.

Through the JioCompanion app, users can connect and monitor multiple JioBharat devices, contributing to Jio’s broader push to create a connected, safety-focused ecosystem for Indian households. Speaking at the India Mobile Congress, Dutt revealed that the handsets will now be available for booking at ₹100.

At the inaugural address of the India Mobile Congress, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted India’s speeding journey towards digital self-reliance and technological independence, while moving swiftly towards the 2030 6G Vision. India is the second-largest telecom market and the second-largest 5G market globally. “A country that once struggled with 2G now has 5G connectivity in almost every district. Digital connectivity in India is no longer a privilege or a luxury.  It is now an integral part of every Indian’s life,” he said.

Modi stated that India has launched its Made-in-India 4G stack, a major indigenous achievement for the country, joining the ranks of the other four countries that possess this capability. “On the same day that we launched the 4G stack, we also activated nearly one lakh (100,000) 4G towers across the country. When we talk about a hundred thousand towers, many countries find it hard to believe,” he said in his inaugural address. According to him, the Made-in-India 4G stack is export-ready, ensuring India’s global business outreach, while aiding in achieving the India 6G Vision 2030. 

The PM also shed light on the pace of electronic production, which has increased sixfold since 2014. Mobile phone manufacturing has grown 28 times, and exports have risen 127 times, while creating millions of direct jobs in the mobile phone manufacturing sector over the past decade. He cited data from a major smartphone company that revealed that 45 Indian firms are now part of its supply chain, generating around 3.5 lakh (350,000) jobs in the country.