In a significant policy reversal the central government has withdrawn its directive requiring Smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on all new mobile devices. The rollback came on 3 December 2025 just days after the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had made the app compulsory.
From Mandatory to Voluntary
The earlier order issued on November 28, had mandated that every new Smartphone sold or imported into India must include the Sanchar Saathi app by default and that users should not be able to uninstall or disable it.
Following strong opposition from the public and industry leaders, the government has now clarified that installing Sanchar Saathi is Purely optional. Users may download it if they wish and manufacturers are no longer required to pre-load it.
Why the Government Changed Course
The government stated that user adoption for Sanchar Saathi has increased significantly in recent months, with lakhs of people using it to report cyber fraud, track lost phones and verify IMEI information. Officials said this growing acceptance reduced the need for compulsory pre-installation.
The DoT reiterated that the app serves as a public safety tool and does not have any call monitoring or surveillance functions. It is designed for Fraud reporting, Device verification and Lost phone tracking. Users can uninstall it at any time.
Privacy Concerns and Industry Pushback
The initial mandate sparked widespread criticism from Privacy advocates, Tech experts and Opposition parties, who argued that forced installation without user consent violated digital privacy rights.
Major Smartphone manufacturers were also reluctant to comply citing user freedom concerns and potential implications for device certification processes. The pushback from both industry and citizens contributed significantly to the government’s reversal.
What It Means for Smartphone Users
- Installing Sanchar Saathi is now Voluntary.
- Users who install it can access features such as:
-
Reporting fraud or suspicious telecom activity
-
Tracking and blocking lost or stolen phones
-
Checking device authenticity through IMEI tools
-
- The government believes the app will continue to gain traction organically, without forcing it on users.
