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Key Points
- On 28 November 2025, the Central Government issued a directive that all new smartphones sold in India must have the Sanchar Saathi app pre-installed.
- As soon as this order was issued, serious criticism emerged regarding privacy protection and civil liberties — the opposition termed it a “surveillance app” and raised concerns.
- Consequently, on 3 December 2025, considering the criticism and the surge in downloads, the government withdrew the order — the app will no longer be mandatory for pre-installation; it will remain only ‘optional’, and users may also delete it if they wish
What is Sanchar Saathi?
- Sanchar Saathi is a citizen-centric digital initiative of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). It is available as both a web portal and a mobile application.
- It is designed to protect users from mobile fraud, phone theft, and duplicate/fake IMEI-related issues.
- Through this platform, users can verify the IMEI of their phones, block lost or stolen devices, and file complaints related to suspicious fraud or spoofing.
Why does the Government consider it important?
- The government claims that the Sanchar Saathi app is a capable platform for protecting citizens across the country from cyber fraud, fake/clone phones, fraudulent or duplicate IMEI devices, and illegal mobile connections.
- It describes the initiative as based on “public participation,” stating that interested citizens can ensure the security of their own mobile devices.
The initial mandatory pre-installation order was intended to ensure that even citizens unaware of the app would remain protected — especially those with low digital literacy.