Official police acknowledgment report registered under Section 155 CrPC / Section 174 BNSS or State Lost Article Portals, mandatory for issuing duplicate SIM cards, lost Aadhaar/PAN cards, lost Indian Passports, and lost Driving Licences
Filing an online Lost Report generates a unique Police Complaint Number, which is mandatory to block the IMEI of a lost or stolen mobile phone across all Indian telecom networks on the Central Equipment Identity Register (ceir.gov.in).
đĄ A Police Lost Report (often registered as a Non-Cognizable Report - NCR or digitally as a 'Lost Article Report') is an official digital record issued by the State Police Department confirming that a citizen has formally reported the loss of a specific document, SIM card, or device. It serves as essential legal protection proving you are not responsible if your lost identity is misused by fraudsters, and it is a mandatory prerequisite to obtain duplicate government documents.
Choose the right police filing based on the nature of the incident.
| Parameter | Police Lost Report / NCR | First Information Report (FIR) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governing Law | Section 155 CrPC / Section 174 BNSS (Non-Cognizable) | Section 154 CrPC / Section 173 BNSS (Cognizable Crimes) | Different statutory legal weight |
| Nature of Incident | Accidental loss of articles (phone, wallet, marksheet, passport) | Criminal offenses (theft, robbery, fraud, assault, burglary) | Lost report implies no known criminal suspect |
| Turnaround Time | Instant (issued automatically online within 2 minutes) | Requires officer review and General Diary entry (24-48 hours) | Immediate digital availability for lost reports |
| Primary Utility | Duplicate SIM card, duplicate passport, duplicate DL/RC, CEIR blocking | Insurance theft claims, criminal trials, arrest of suspects | Insurers demand FIR for vehicle theft claims |
Instant online generation and downloadable digital PDF within 2 to 5 minutes on state police portals and mobile apps.
100% Free of cost across all state police online lost report portals.
Any individual who has lost an article or document within the territorial jurisdiction of the police commissionerate/state where no cognizable crime (like violent robbery or extortion) is alleged.
Citizens who have accidentally misplaced or lost essential personal belongings: mobile phones, SIM cards, original Passport, PAN Card, Aadhaar Card, Driving Licence (DL), Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC Book), school/college original marksheets, and bank chequebooks.
Visit your state police portal or download the official citizen app (e.g., Delhi Police Lost Report portal, UPCOP app in UP, Citizen Portal in Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu Police Lost Document Portal, or Karnataka KSP app).
Click on the Lost Article option. Enter your full name, contact number, email address, and verify via mobile OTP.
Select from standard categories: 'Mobile Phone', 'Passport', 'Driving Licence', 'Aadhaar Card', 'PAN Card', 'Vehicle RC', or 'Educational Documents'.
Input the unique document number (or IMEI number), place of loss, date, time, and a brief factual description of how the article was lost or misplaced.
Submit the form. The portal instantly generates an official 'Lost Report' / 'NCR' bearing a unique Digital Registry Number, police station name, and digitally verified QR code. Save the PDF.
Understanding when simple loss turns into a criminal offense:
If your phone or wallet slipped from your pocket or was misplaced, a Lost Report / NCR is appropriate. However, if your purse was snatched, your house was burgled, or your car was broken into, it is a COGNIZABLE CRIME requiring a full FIR.
If a lost report was filed and you later discover that the item was stolen by a specific person or used in a fraudulent crime, visit the local police station to record a supplementary statement and register a regular FIR.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) operates CEIR to block lost/stolen handsets nationally:
Obtain the police lost report PDF containing the Complaint Reference Number and IMEI details.
Visit your telecom operator (Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL) with the lost report copy to obtain a duplicate SIM with your existing mobile number.
Visit ceir.gov.in â 'Block Stolen/Lost Mobile'. Enter the 15-digit IMEI numbers, upload the police lost report PDF and purchase invoice, and submit. The handset is blacklisted across all Indian telecom networks within 24 hours.
Standard solutions when portals or authorities raise issues.
| Issue Encountered | Probable Reason | Recommended Remedial Action |
|---|---|---|
| State portal does not have a 'Lost Article' option | State police website citizen services menu | States without separate lost portals handle it via the 'Non-Cognizable Report (NCR)' or 'General Diary (GD) Entry' module. Alternatively, visit the local police station to file a physical GD entry. |
| Telecom operator refuses to issue duplicate SIM with digital report | Department of Telecom (DoT) KYC Guidelines | DoT guidelines explicitly mandate telecom operators (Airtel, Jio, Vi, BSNL) to accept digitally verified police lost reports. Show the QR code on the PDF for scanner verification. |
| Cannot remember lost Driving Licence or RC number | DigiLocker or Parivahan portal archive | Log in to DigiLocker or mParivahan using your Aadhaar/mobile number to retrieve the exact vehicle and licence numbers before submitting the report. |
| Lost mobile phone recovered by citizen | CEIR Unblock Portal | Visit ceir.gov.in â 'Unblock Found/Recovered Mobile', enter the Request ID and mobile OTP, and the phone will be restored to active network service within 24 hours. |
Under Department of Telecommunications (DoT) customer verification guidelines, telecom operators (Jio, Airtel, Vi, BSNL) mandatorily require a copy of the Police Lost Report / NCR along with fresh biometric Aadhaar KYC before activating a duplicate SIM card with the same phone number.
Under Section 155 of the CrPC / Section 174 of BNSS, police officers do not conduct physical investigations for non-cognizable lost property reports unless ordered by a Magistrate. The lost report primarily serves as official legal proof of loss for obtaining duplicates and protecting you against liability if the lost item is misused.
Yes. The Ministry of External Affairs (Passport Seva) accepts digitally generated, QR-coded Police Lost Reports from state police portals (such as Delhi Police, UP Police, Tamil Nadu Police) as valid documentary proof for re-issuing an Indian Passport in the 'Lost/Damaged' category.
It is 100% completely FREE of cost. No fee is charged on any official state police portal or police station for recording a lost article or non-cognizable complaint.
The Central Equipment Identity Register (CEIR - ceir.gov.in) is a national portal managed by the Department of Telecommunications to block stolen and lost mobile phones across India. To prevent fraudulent blocking, the portal strictly requires you to upload a valid Police Complaint / Lost Report before blacklisting an IMEI.
Statutory rules governing information regarding non-cognizable cases, General Diary entries, and police powers.
Checked on November 4, 2026
View Reference Document âOperational framework for tracking, tracing, and blocking lost and stolen mobile handsets across Indian telecom networks.
Checked on November 4, 2026
View Reference Document âFoundational criminal proceeding document registered under Section 154 of the Code of Criminal Procedure / Section 173 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita for cognizable offenses, required for insurance theft claims and judicial defense
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Governed by Section 155 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (now Section 174 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 - BNSS) and dedicated State Police Lost Property Citizen Services.
State Police Lost Article Portals â