The government has defended its directive requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app, stating that the mandate involves no privacy or surveillance risks and is backed by strong legal provisions under the Telecom Cybersecurity Rules 2024, notified through the Telecommunications Act 2023.
Government officials said the app has seen an explosive rise in adoption, recording a tenfold jump in daily downloads from nearly 60,000 to 6 lakh per day following the order issued on November 28. Even before the mandate, 1.5 crore users had already downloaded Sanchar Saathi, reflecting rising public interest in fraud protection and mobile number safety.
The order directs manufacturers to pre-install the app on all new smartphones sold in India and push it to existing devices via software updates. It also requires that the app remain visible and accessible during initial setup and that manufacturers refrain from disabling or limiting its functionality. However, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has clarified that users remain completely free to delete the app if they choose.
An official explained that the mandate applies only to manufacturers, not users.
“There are no privacy or surveillance risks associated with Sanchar Saathi. The directive ensures that manufacturers do not hide or cripple the app and later claim compliance. At no point does it state that citizens cannot uninstall it,” the official said.
Officials further emphasized that the app offers clear fraud-prevention benefits, helping users identify mobile connections issued in their name, block suspicious numbers, and prevent identity misuse.
The government maintains that the decision is aimed at strengthening digital security and telecom safety, while ensuring citizens retain full control over whether to keep or uninstall the Sanchar Saathi app.
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