The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has approved a proposal from the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to issue a single number, 112, for availing of emergency services. Accordingly, the existing emergency numbers – 100, 101, 102 and 108 - would continue to exist for one year and would be re-routed to the single emergency number. The existing numbers will be shut in a phased manner. The telecom regulator had earlier recommended setting up of a public safety answering-point based integrated emergency communication and response system, which will be accessed through a single number - 112.

DoT has, however, rejected TRAI’s proposal of incorporation of GPS feature in all the mobile handsets so as to correctly identify the device owner. The telecom department is of the view that a large percentage of low-cost mobile handsets in India do not support GPS facility. On the other hand, DoT suggested telecom regulator to study the impact of enabling mobile handsets with GPS facility before finalising its view on the matter.