New Delhi: India’s government has clarified that the Sanchar Saathi mobile app will
not be mandatory for smartphone manufacturers to pre-install on new devices. The decision comes after days of criticism and concerns raised by users, privacy advocates, and
smartphone brands. The earlier mandate had directed manufacturers to preload the Sanchar Saathi app on all upcoming devices sold in India, with the aim of strengthening telecom security and preventing phone misuse. The sudden announcement had sparked a political and consumer debate around user freedom and privacy.
Government pulls back mandate
The Centre has now stated that pre-installation is not compulsory, and users will remain free to decide whether they want the app on their phones. The government says the intent was to promote wider awareness of the app’s safety features, not enforce permanent installation.
The telecom minister yesterday clarified that users who find the app unnecessary can simply delete it once they set up their smartphone.
What Sanchar Saathi does
Sanchar Saathi is a DoT-developed platform designed to help consumers:
- Check if a phone is genuine
- Block stolen or lost devices using IMEI
- Report fraudulent calls or telecom misuse
The app has been part of the government’s push to reduce rising digital fraud and counterfeit phone circulation in the country.
