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The Union Government backtracks on its controversial Sanchar Saathi app mandate! What triggered the sudden reversal, and what does it mean for your smartphone privacy? Read on to uncover the full story.
The Central government's order to make Sanchar Saathi app mandatory drew backlash
New Delhi: The Union Government has withdrawn its earlier directive that required all smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the government’s cybersecurity app Sanchar Saathi on new handsets. The reversal comes amid widespread public backlash and concerns over privacy and surveillance.
On 28 November 2025, Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued a binding order asking all OEMs and importers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi on every new device manufactured or imported for use in India. The directive stipulated that the app must be “readily visible and accessible” during initial device setup and that its features could not be disabled or restricted.
According to DoT, the app was aimed at strengthening telecom security allowing users to verify genuine phones via IMEI checks, report suspicious calls and messages, block or report lost/stolen phones and view all mobile connections registered in their name.
The government argued the move was necessary to crack down on telecom fraud, bogus IMEIs and the sale of stolen or blacklisted handsets problems especially acute in India’s thriving second‑hand smartphone market.
Important Development: Union Government removes mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi App
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) December 3, 2025
Almost immediately, the policy triggered strong criticism from opposition political parties, digital‑rights groups and civil society. Critics argued that pre-installing a state-run app especially one reportedly undeletable on every phone amounted to a massive erosion of user privacy and raised the spectre of mass surveillance.
Some pointed out that forcing a government app onto all smartphones echoes similar moves by authoritarian regimes worldwide, stirring fears of “Big Brother” style overreach.
Digital‑rights activists also warned that mandatory pre‑installation without user consent undermines the principle of individual agency over personal devices, especially when the app requests broad permissions (calls, SMS logs, access to IMEI, etc.).
Amid mounting protests and controversy, the government changed tack. On 2 December 2025, Jyotiraditya Scindia, the Communications Minister, clarified that while Sanchar Saathi may come pre-installed, users are free to delete it. “If you don’t want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it. It is optional,” he told reporters outside Parliament.
He further said the app would not monitor calls or snoop on users, and its functionality would activate only after users choose to register.
Sanchar Saathi App: Features, Mandate, Privacy Issues & Govt Rules Explained
According to government data, since its launch in January 2023 the app and portal have reportedly helped trace thousands of lost or stolen phones and block fraudulent connections a figure the government says underscores its utility.
New smartphones sold after the directive may still come with Sanchar Saathi pre-installed.
But users now have the choice: they can delete or ignore the app if they are concerned about privacy.
The government frames this as offering a “useful tool” rather than imposing a mandate, arguing that citizens should be given the option to protect themselves from fraud without compromising autonomy.
Digital‑rights experts, however, caution that the episode reveals deeper tensions between state control, citizen privacy and the digital rights of users in India making it clear that transparent safeguards and respect for consent are non‑negotiable if trust is to be maintained.
