In a sudden reversal, the government on Wednesday announced that it has withdrawn the order mandating the pre‑installation of the “Sanchar Saathi” app on new smartphones sold in India. The move, effective immediately, makes the app optional for manufacturers and users alike.
The government confirmed the rollback via a statement on Twitter. See the tweet here
Launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Sanchar Saathi is a government‑run app. It is designed to help Indian mobile users improve security. It allows users to block and trace lost or stolen phones using their IMEI. It also helps them check whether a handset is genuine, view all mobile connections registered in their 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.
The decision follows strong feedback from privacy advocates, smartphone manufacturers and the public. According to the government, the rollback comes after more than 1.3 million users voluntarily downloaded the app. This signals growing adoption without compulsion.
Authorities have assured users that the app does not monitor calls or messages and can be uninstalled anytime by them.
