Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia Announces DoT’s 3 Major Reforms

Current Context: On 29 December 2025, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia announced three major reforms by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to strengthen telecom security.

• The Pro Tem Security Certification Scheme was extended for two years starting 1 January 2026, ensuring continuity in secure equipment rollout.
• Fees for Telecom Security Testing Laboratories (TSTLs) were cut by over 50%, encouraging more labs to participate.
• The Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirement (ITSAR) process for Optical Network Terminator (ONT) devices was simplified, reducing test cases nearly tenfold.
• These reforms aim to boost industry growth, reduce compliance burden, and accelerate certification timelines.
• They align with the vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat – Design in India, Solve in India, Scale for the World.
• Overall, the measures enhance national telecom security while promoting ease of doing business.

Question:

Q.1 The Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirement (ITSAR) process was simplified for which device category?
a) Mobile Handsets
b) Fifth Generation (5G) Base Stations
c) Optical Network Terminator (ONT) devices
d) Satellite Communication Terminals

Answer: c) The Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirement (ITSAR) was simplified for Optical Network Terminator (ONT) devices.