Sanchar Saathi App No Longer Mandatory on Smartphones: Govt Rolls Back Pre-Installation Order

The Central government has withdrawn its earlier decision that made the Sanchar Saathi app mandatory for pre-installation on all smartphones manufactured or imported in India. The order was rolled back after two days of massive backlash from opposition parties and civil rights groups. Many argued that forcing the app onto users is like breaching their privacy.

The Ministry of Communications clarified that the decision was taken in the public interest and that the Sanchar Saathi app has already secured a lot of users across the country. According to the ministry data, the app has 1.4 crore downloads, and over 2,000 cyber-fraud incidents are reported daily through the platform.

Officials added that the app is designed only to help users safeguard their mobile devices and report online fraud, and it is not for tracking or snooping.

Why the Government Rolled Back the Sanchar Saathi Mandate?

The government originally made the pre-installation mandatory to make the adoption of the app faster and to help less tech-savvy citizens protect themselves from cyber scams.

Responding to the backlash, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "The Sanchar Saathi app is completely optional, safe to use, and can be deleted anytime. The app has no hidden features, no surveillance tools, and no system-level access that could compromise personal data. Instead, the app is meant to enable "jan bhagidari" by helping citizens report cybercriminals and protect their own mobile numbers, devices, and digital identity." he further added.

The ministry also said that the app saw a sudden surge in interest, with 6 lakh new registrations in a single day after the public debate began.

What Is the Sanchar Saathi App?

The Sanchar Saathi app is a digital security tool launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in January 2025. It is available on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store and can be used to help users stay safe from mobile-related fraud, track lost phones, and verify whether their device is original.

The Sanchar Saathi app requires basic permissions such as access to call logs, SMS details, and photos but only for reporting fraud or verifying phone details. The government stressed that the app contains no surveillance features and no hidden tracking tools. Users can delete the app whenever they want.

According to data on the Sanchar Sathi website, over 50,000 stolen/lost phones were recovered in October 2025 alone. More than 7 lakh phones have been recovered nationwide so far.