Why Indian govt wants smartphone makers to pre-install an app on all devices

In a fresh push to tighten India’s cybersecurity, the telecom ministry has told smartphone companies to pre-install a government-developed ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app that allows users to report stolen phones, track unauthorised mobile connections, and flag suspicious or fraudulent calls and messages.

Earlier, a directive issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on November 28 required all new smartphones sold in the country to come with Sanchar Saathi already built in. For phones already in the market, manufacturers must roll out a software update to add the app.

The move had triggered strong pushback from Opposition leaders, who argued that making an undeletable app compulsory is unconstitutional and could open the door to state surveillance.

Following the massive backlash, Union Minister for Telecommunications Jyotiraditya Scindia has now clarified that the app can be deleted by the user.

“If you don’t want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it. It is optional,” Scindia told ANI. “It is our duty to introduce this app to everyone. Keeping it in their devices or not, is up to the user,” he further clarified.

So what exactly does this Sanchar Saathi app do? And what features does it offer users? And why did it become the centre of political debate? Here’s a simple breakdown.

All about the Sanchar Saathi app

The Sanchar Saathi app builds on the government’s earlier web portal launched in May 2023. In January this year, the DoT rolled out the Sanchar Saathi mobile app for Android and iOS, giving users an easier way to report mobile-related fraud and theft.

Once the app is installed, users can request the blocking of a lost or stolen phone across all telecom networks in India. This allows law enforcement agencies to track the device, using its unique International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, a 15-digit code that helps networks identify and authenticate phones.

According to the Sanchar Saathi website, 42.14 lakh mobiles have been blocked, and over 26.11 lakh lost or stolen mobile handsets have been traced using the app.

The app also includes a feature called Chakshu, which is used to flag malicious links or harmful communication that pose cybersecurity threats. This covers everything from phishing links and financial scams to unverified APK files, cloning attempts, or spam messages received through SMS, RCS, iMessage, WhatsApp, Telegram, and other platforms.

Another feature inside the app allows users to view all mobile numbers registered under their name and report any connection they don’t recognise.

Sanchar Saathi also comes with the KYM (Know Your Mobile) feature, which helps users verify whether their smartphone is genuine and safe to use.

As of now, the app has more than 1.14 crore registrations, with more than 1 crore downloads from Google Playstore, and more than 9.5 lakh downloads from Apple Store.

What did the government directive say?

According to the new directive, the DoT has asked all mobile manufacturers and importers to make sure the Sanchar Saathi app comes pre-installed on every device made or brought into India.

They must also ensure the app is clearly visible and easy to access when a user first sets up their phone, and that none of its features can be removed, disabled, or restricted.

For devices that have already been manufactured and are currently sitting in sales channels, companies were expected to push the app through a software update “on a best-effort basis”.

Smartphone brands were given 90 days to fully roll out the app on new devices and 120 days to submit a compliance report. This order applied across the board, from Apple and Samsung to Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and others.

Also read: Why you might get logged out of WhatsApp Web every 6 hours in India

Uproar over the Sanchar Saathi app

The government’s directive had triggered strong political pushback, with Opposition parties calling the move unconstitutional and warning that it opens the door to state surveillance.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi had compared the mandate to a “BIG BOSS surveillance moment,” alleging that the government was trying to “get into individual phones through shady ways."

She said such steps “will be protested and opposed," arguing that instead of strengthening grievance-redressal systems, the IT Ministry was “creating surveillance systems."

The government, however, had insisted that the app does not access anyone’s personal data and is only meant to stop the misuse of illegal or fraudulent devices. The Opposition has rejected this claim.

Congress general secretary KC Venugopal had also condemned the move, calling it “beyond unconstitutional." In a post on X, he wrote, “Big Brother cannot watch us," stressing that the right to privacy is part of the fundamental right to life under Article 21.

He described Sanchar Saathi as a “dystopian tool to monitor every Indian," alleging that it would track “every movement, interaction and decision" of citizens. The Congress has demanded that the order be withdrawn immediately, saying it fits into a pattern of “relentless assaults" on constitutional freedoms.

With input from agencies