The government on Wednesday announced that it had withdrawn the order mandating the pre‑installation of the “Sanchar Saathi” app on new smartphones sold in India. The move, which is effective immediately, makes the app optional for manufacturers and users alike. The government confirmed the rollback via a statement on Twitter.
Sanchar Saathi, launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) is a government‑run app designed to help Indian mobile users improve security. It allows users to block and trace lost or stolen phones using their IMEI, check whether a handset is genuine, view all mobile connections registered in your name and report suspicious calls or messages.
The app is part of a broader effort to curb device theft, fraud and misuse of telecom resources.
Reacting to public and industry backlash, including privacy concerns and objections from both opposition parties and tech firms, the government said the decision is based on the strong voluntary uptake, with over 1.3 million users having downloaded the app.
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