Government takes a U-turn; removes mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app

The government has announced that it will no longer require mobile manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi on all new smartphones. The decision comes hours after union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia addressed the Lok Sabha, clarifying that “Snooping is neither possible, nor will it ever be”. The clarification came after a directive asking smartphone makers to pre-install the app on new phones that will be sold in the country sparked concerns around privacy and potential surveillance.

What the government said on pre-installation of Sanchar Sathi app

The Government with an intent to provide access to cyber security to all citizens had mandated pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones. The app is secure and purely meant to help citizens from bad actors in the cyber world.



It helps in " Jan bhagidari" by all citizens in reporting on such bad actors and actions while protecting users themselves. There is no other function other than protecting the users in the app and they can remove the app whenever they want. This has been clarified by Government.

So far 1.4 crore users have downloaded this app and are contributing to information on 2000 fraud incidents per day. The number of users has been increasing rapidly and the mandate to install the app was meant to accelerate this process and make the app available to less aware citizens easily. Just in last one day, 6 lakh citizens have registered for downloading the App which is a 10x increase in its uptake. This is affirmation of faith by citizens on this App for protecting themselves provided to them by the Government.Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, Government has decided not to make the pre- installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers.

What the government’s directive on Sanchar Sathi app said

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued the directive on November 28, 2025, under the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, making it mandatory for all smartphones sold in the country to come pre-installed with the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app. This marked the first time India has required state-backed software on all mobile devices.

Also read: 'Chor ki daadhi mein tinka': BJP defends Sanchar Saathi app; attacks Congress over privacy row

What is Sanchar Saathi app

Launched in January, Sanchar Saathi is described by DoT as a “citizen centric initiative” designed to help mobile subscribers and strengthen their security against telecom-related cyber threats. According to the government, the Sanchar Sathi platform has helped recover over 700,000 lost phones, block more than 3.7 million stolen devices, and terminate 30 million fraudulent mobile connections.

According to DoT, the initiative by citing the prevalence of duplicate or spoofed IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers, which pose serious cybersecurity threats. The department also notes that India's large second-hand mobile device market has seen cases of stolen or blacklisted devices being resold, making purchasers unwitting participants in crime.

Sanchar Saathi app can be deleted: Telecom minister

The mandate sparked questions about user choice, flexibility and privacy. Scindia addressed the concerns, saying that the app is not mandatory for use.

“If you want to delete the app, you can, it is not mandatory. For instance, if you don't want to use the app, don't register for it, it will stay dormant, and delete it if you want to,” Scindia noted.