New Delhi | December 3, 2025 | In a swift reversal, the Union government has withdrawn its directive requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi application on all new devices sold in India. The announcement came just two days after the original order triggered widespread criticism from rights advocates, political leaders and mobile handset companies.
The earlier mandate, issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on December 1, would have made the app compulsory on all smartphones manufactured or sold in India from March 2026. DoT had argued that the move was essential to curb the threat posed by handsets with duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, citing national security and cybercrime concerns.
“Users are already choosing the app voluntarily” — Government
While announcing the rollback, the Communications Ministry said the decision reflects the app’s strong public acceptance and growing user base.
The Ministry noted that features such as lost or stolen phone tracking, reporting of fraudulent communications, and IMEI verification have encouraged citizens to voluntarily install the platform. Additionally, a surge in cyber fraud cases and targeted awareness campaigns have driven organic adoption.
Opposition and civil society raised privacy alarms
The directive had sparked criticism from privacy activists, digital rights organisations and several opposition parties, who warned that:
- Mandatory pre-loading could enable unchecked state surveillance
- Pre-installed apps are often difficult to remove, undermining consumer choice
- The move clashed with data protection and informed consent principles
Rights groups linked the policy to a wider trend of expanding digital monitoring in India.
Industry concerns on compliance and global product impact
Smartphone manufacturers also expressed unease, citing operational and commercial hurdles:
- Factory-level software changes for every model
- Inadequate timeline for implementation
- Risk of multiple regional firmware builds complicating global device standards
One senior industry executive commented that keeping the app optional was the most pragmatic approach for all stakeholders.
Government defends the app’s core objective: user safety
Despite the rollback, the government maintained that Sanchar Saathi is a critical component of India’s telecom security framework. According to the ministry, the app strengthens:
- Detection of illegitimate device identities
- Ease of filing cybercrime complaints
- Transparency in SIM–Aadhaar linkage
The app is also available in 21 Indian languages to ensure wider accessibility.
A victory for consumer rights?
Digital policy experts have termed the reversal a major win for consumer autonomy, while noting that the episode reflects increasing public scrutiny of technology governance.
For now, Sanchar Saathi will remain voluntary, but the government has signalled that further initiatives to improve digital security are on the way, including:
- A more robust national IMEI database
- Tighter measures against spam and fraudulent calls
- Expanded user awareness programmes
What’s next?
Officials confirmed that DoT will initiate fresh consultations with industry bodies and digital rights groups to balance cyber-safety requirements with user privacy and freedom of choice.
As one senior government representative remarked:
“Protecting consumers is paramount — but not at the expense of their consent.”
