INDIA REVERSES MANDATORY PRE-INSTALLATION OF SANCHAR SAATHI CYBERSECURITY APP

The government of India, through the Department of Telecommunications (hereinafter: DoT) under the Ministry of Communications, has revoked a directive that would have made the pre-installation of the state-owned Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity application mandatory on all new smartphones. The initial order, issued privately to manufacturers on 28 November 2025, directed smartphone makers and importers to ensure the app was pre-installed on all mobile handsets intended for use in India within 90 days. The reversal came on 3 December 2025, following a widespread backlash from political opposition and digital freedom activists over privacy concerns.

The Sanchar Saathi Application And Its Mandate

The Sanchar Saathi application, available as both a mobile app and a web portal, was launched by the DoT in January 2025. The app is described as a citizen-centric safety tool designed to empower mobile subscribers and strengthen their security against telecom-related cyber threats. Key features of the application include allowing users to block and track lost or stolen mobile phones using their International Mobile Equipment Identity (hereinafter: IMEI) number. It also helps users to check how many mobile connections are registered under their name to identify and disconnect fraudulent numbers, report suspected fraudulent calls and messages and verify the authenticity of used devices.

The government of India stated its rationale for the mandatory pre-installation was to combat what was described as a “serious endangerment” to cybersecurity and rampant fraud in India. This included addressing issues like spoofed or duplicated IMEI numbers, which enable scams and network misuse. The order required manufacturers to ensure the app was “readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use or device setup”. Initial reports indicated the order mandated that the app’s functionalities could not be disabled or restricted by the user. It also required manufacturers to push the app to devices already in the supply chain via a software update.

Industry Response And Privacy Concerns

The directive prompted immediate concerns regarding user privacy and created potential conflict with major global technology companies. Smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi, were bound by the order.

Resistance From Major Technology Firms

European and neo-European states’ technology companies, specifically Apple, were reported to be planning to refuse to comply with the mandate, citing security and privacy risks. According to sources, Apple’s internal policy prohibits the pre-installation of any government or third-party software before the sale of a smartphone anywhere in the world. Some industry analysts suggested that Apple might seek a compromise, such as adding an on-screen prompt to encourage users to download the application, rather than enforcing a mandatory pre-install.

Political And Activist Outcry

The order was met with an outcry from opposition parties and digital freedom activists. Critics asserted that mandating the app eroded the principle of user consent and could potentially allow the government unfettered access to citizens’ phones, citing concerns about surveillance and the possibility of future expansion of the app’s role. Concerns were raised that a pre-loaded, non-removable government app would create a “dystopian” tool for monitoring citizens’ movements, interactions, and decisions.

Government Clarifications And Reversal

On 2 December 2025, Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that the app would be “completely optional” and that users were free to delete it if they wished, which contradicted initial reports of the confidential order. The government maintained that the app was secure, transparent and solely designed to protect citizens from cybercriminals.

The Ministry of Communications officially revoked the mandatory pre-installation order on 3 December 2025. The ministry stated that the decision was made because of the “increasing acceptance” of the application, noting that 14 million users had already downloaded it, and 600.000 new users had registered for the download in the previous day alone. The government framed this as an affirmation of citizens’ faith in the protective tool.

Concluding Outlook On Telecommunications Policy

The reversal of the mandatory pre-installation order for the Sanchar Saathi app demonstrates the immediate political and economic responsiveness of the current administration to public and corporate objections regarding telecommunications policy. The government’s stated intent to provide accessible cybersecurity for all citizens remains, as does the app’s functionality for curbing fraud and tracking stolen devices across India’s market of over 1,2 billion users.

However, the initial attempt to enforce a system that clashed with the established internal policies of multinational technology firms, particularly European and neo-European companies, underscored a potential friction point in maintaining market access while simultaneously enforcing domestic cybersecurity mandates. The official revocation, which pivots on the principle of voluntary adoption due to rising user acceptance, realigns the government’s approach with a methodology that respects user autonomy while continuing to promote its security infrastructure. This development indicates that future governmental measures concerning technology regulation will likely prioritise promoting optional usage and public education to drive adoption rather than relying on mandatory pre-installation, to avoid legal and political contention.