The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has mandated that all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India must be pre-installed with the Sanchar Saathi App. The move is meant to curb rising cases of mobile-related fraud, illegal SIM usage, and the growing concern over stolen phones being reused. However, the app has attracted negative attention and raised privacy concerns due to the government’s “mandatory” installation request. But, is it really a security threat? Let’s find out.
What Is Sanchar Saathi App?
Sanchar Saathi is a government-backed app, which launched earlier this year. It has already crossed 5 million downloads. Here’s what the app offers:
- Check if a handset’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number is genuine. This helps buyers avoid fake or tampered phones.
- Report lost or stolen phones so they can be blocked.
- Flag spam or fraudulent calls/SMS.
- Review the mobile connections registered under one’s name and spot any unauthorised or suspicious connections.
The app is designed to protect users against mobile-related risks and fraud. It is said that there has been a rise in telecom-related fraud, and the app has already helped recover 7,00,000 phones and blocked more than 3.7 million devices. Hence, the push to make it mandatory.
What Phone Permissions Does the App Ask For?
The Sanchar Saathi app requires a few essential permissions, including access to SMS and call logs for fraud detection, mobile number verification and basic storage access, all of which support its core security features.
What are the Government Directives and New Mandate?
DoT issued a formal directive to all smartphone manufacturers like Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi, and more, in India. Here are some of the important points of the directive:
- The app must be visible and accessible during first-time device setup.
- Its features must not be disabled or restricted.
- Companies have 90 days to comply with new phones, and 120 days to submit compliance reports. For phones already manufactured or in stock, manufacturers/importers must attempt to push the app via software updates.
However, the directive has attracted some resistance from Apple. According to Rueters, Apple has refused to comply with this. It remains to be seen what happens. But, this isn’t it. There has been backlash, particuarly, due to the government’s requirement of the app’s mandatory pre-installation. However, there has been a clarification.
Can Users Uninstall Sanchar Saathi?
In response to privacy concerns and public debate, Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified that Sanchar Saathi is optional for users.
देश के हर नागरिक की डिजिटल सुरक्षा हमारी सर्वोच्च प्राथमिकता है। ‘संचार साथी’ ऐप का उद्देश्य है कि प्रत्येक व्यक्ति अपनी निजता की रक्षा कर सके और ऑनलाइन ठगी से सुरक्षित रह सके।
यह एक पूरी तरह स्वैच्छिक और लोकतांत्रिक व्यवस्था है-यूज़र चाहें तो ऐप को सक्रिय कर इसके लाभ ले सकते…
— Jyotiraditya M. Scindia (@JM_Scindia) December 2, 2025
What About Phones Already Sold Or Without Sanchar Saathi?
The directive requires manufacturers and importers to push the app to existing phones via software updates, though the rollout may take time. Users whose phones do not receive the update (or who bought second-hand devices) can still manually install Sanchar Saathi from the official app stores (Android or iOS).
Despite some criticism, the Sanchar Saathi app positions itself as an important tool in strengthening digital safety across the country. However, it remains to be seen whether it can effectively curb the rapidly growing cybersecurity threats without compromising user privacy.
