Did the sudden mobile alert stun you a short while back? Here's all you need to know

Got startled by the dystopian alert on your mobile a short while ago? If you thought your mobile just got hacked, you are wrong. The message that just splashed on the mobile screens across the county with an apocalyptic ringtone was a part of mobile-based indigenous disaster communication systems launched today by Communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia. 

The following message was sent to mobile handsets in all capital cities of India along with Delhi and NCR as launch exercise: “India, launches Cell Broadcast using indigenous technology, for instant disaster alerting service for its citizens. Alert citizens, safe nation. No action is required by the public upon receipt of this message. This is a test message.”

The system was launched in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah,  "The system has been developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), ministry of communications, in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), to ensure timely dissemination of critical information to its citizens," the government said in a release. 

To further strengthen alert dissemination in time-critical situations, such as tsunamis, earthquakes, lightning strikes and man-made emergencies like gas leaks or chemical hazards, Cell Broadcast (CB) technology has been introduced alongside SMS, the government said.

"In a Cell Broadcast System, alerts are transmitted to all mobile devices within a defined geographic area simultaneously, ensuring near real-time delivery of the alerts. C-DOT has been entrusted with the indigenous development and implementation of this Cell Broadcast-based public emergency alert system," it added. 

"NDMA has successfully operationalized the Integrated Alert System (SACHET), developed by the Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT), the premier R&D centre of the Department of Telecommunications," it added. 

"The system is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP), as recommended by the International Telecommunication Union. It is currently operational across all 36 States and Union Territories of India and delivers disaster and emergency related alerts via SMS to mobile users within geo-targeted areas," it said. 

The system has been extensively utilized by disaster management authorities, enabling the dissemination of over 134 billion SMS alerts, till date, in more than 19 Indian languages during natural disasters, weather warnings, and cyclonic events.