Sanchar Saathi App Analysis: The Triumph of Innovation and the Peril of Neglect part 2

Sanchar Saathi app

India has scrapped an order making it mandatory for smartphone makers to preload a state-run cyber safety app on new phones after a public figure.

The order gave smartphone makers 90 days to pre-load new phones with its new Sanchar Saathi app which could not be “disabled or restricted”, sparking privacy and surveillance concerns.

The government argued the move was necessary to verify the authenticity of handsets, but cybersecurity experts said it impinged on citizens’ right to privacy.Withdrawing the order on Wednesday, the government cited the app’s “increasing acceptance”. It came after Apple and Samsung had reportedly resisted the directive to pre-install it on their devices.So far 14 million users have downloaded the app, reporting 2,000 frauds daily, and on Tuesday alone 600,000 new users registered – a tenfold spike, according to India’s telecom ministry.

WHAT DOES THE Sanchar Saathi App DO?

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THE ORIGINAL GOVERNMENT ORDER of Sanchar Saathi App

On November 28, India’s telecom ministry privately asked all smartphone manufacturers to preload their new devices with the app, stating that it must be “visible, functional, and enabled” upon first setup. Reuters was first to report on the move on Monday.

It also said manufacturers must ensure that users cannot disable or restrict the app’s features.

For devices that are already manufactured, companies were told they must install the app via software updates.

The government said the mandate was essential to combat the “serious endangerment” of telecom cyber security caused by IMEI tampering.

What Has Centre Told Phonemakers?

The Department of Telecommunications, which comes under the Ministry of Communications helmed by Jyotiraditya Scindia, has directed mobile phone manufacturers to ensure that the Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported in India within 90 days, starting November 28.

“Ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi app is readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use or device setup and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted,” the notification says.

For phones that have already been manufactured, the phone companies have been asked to push the app through software updates. The Centre has warned that failure to comply with these directions shall attract action.

How Phonemakers May React?

According to a Reuters report, the government’s mandate may spark a tussle with Apple, which has opposed such directions in the past, citing privacy and security risks. Apple, Samsung, and Xiaomi did not respond to Reuters queries, nor did the Communications Ministry.

Two industry sources, speaking to Reuters on the condition of anonymity, said the government did not consult the phone manufacturers before the order was issued. According to the Sanchar Saathi App, the app has been used to block 42 lakh stolen phones and helped recover 7 lakh phones. The website say

What did the govt say on the Sanchar Saathi app?

According to a press communique issued by the Union ministry of communications, the DoT has issued directions for the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app in mobile handsets to verify the genuineness of mobile handsets.

“In order to safeguard the citizens from buying the non-genuine handsets, enabling easy reporting of suspected misuse of telecom resources and to increase effectiveness of the Sanchar Saathi initiative, the DoT has issued Directions dated 28.11.2025 mandating the manufacturer and importers of mobile handsets that are intended for use in India under the provisions of the Telecom Cyber Security,” the ministry note issued on 1 December reads.

The Ministry has issued a three-point mandate to mobile phone manufacturers and importers. These are:

1- Ensure that the Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India.

2- Ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi App application is readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use or device setup and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted.

3- For all such devices that have been already been manufactured and are in sales channels in India, the manufacturer and importers of mobile handsets shall make an endeavour to push the App through software updates.

The directions mandate that the implementation be completed within 90 days and the report submitted within 120 days, the government statement reads.

What is Sanchar Saathi App Initiative?

The DoT is undertaking the Sanchar Saathi initiative for curbing misuse of telecom resources for cyber frauds and ensuring telecom cyber security, the statement said.

The department has developed Sanchar Saathi portal & app which enables citizens to check genuineness of a mobile handset through the IMEI number along with other facilities like reporting suspected fraud communications, lost/ stolen mobile handsets, check mobile connections in their name, trusted contact details of banks/ financial institutions, it read.

“The Telecom Cyber Security Rules empower the Union government to issue directions to manufacturers of telecommunication equipment bearing International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number to provide assistance as required in relation to tampered telecommunication equipment or IMEI number. The Rules also mandate that such manufacturers or importers shall ensure compliance with the directions as may be issued by the Central Government for the purpose of giving effect to the rules,” the statement read.

 

Opposition criticism and privacy concerns

Even before the withdrawal, the directive drew sharp criticism from the Congress, AAP, and CPI(M), who described it as authoritarian, intrusive, and a threat to citizens’ privacy.

AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge said: “Violating people’s rights, controlling them, spying on them and conducting surveillance are distinctive features of the BJP’s authoritarian governance. Without taking citizens or stakeholders into confidence, the Modi government has unilaterally forced this app upon people. These directives resemble autocracy. Why does the government want to know what citizens discuss with their families and friends?”

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra called the app a “spy app”, adding, “If the government begins monitoring everything, where will citizens’ privacy remain?”

Senior Congress MP Shashi Tharoor emphasised that such apps should be voluntary: “Those who need them may download them. Making everything mandatory becomes troublesome. The government must directly brief the public and explain the rationale behind this decision,” he said.

Government perspective and user adoption

The government highlighted that 14 million users have downloaded the app, reporting roughly 2,000 fraud incidents daily. Officials said the mandate was initially intended to accelerate adoption and ensure the app reached citizens less aware of its existence, particularly for its fraud-prevention features.

Digital rights advocacy group Internet Freedom Foundation called the withdrawal “a welcome development”, while urging caution until the formal legal order and any revised directives under the Cyber Security Rules, 2024, are published.

The episode underscores the delicate balance between promoting digital safety and respecting privacy, with the government now seeking to maintain uptake through voluntary adoption rather than compulsory installation.