The Indian telecom regulator has directed all major smartphone manufacturers to include the government's Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices sold in the country.
The directive gives companies such as Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi 90 days to ensure the app is pre-installed and cannot be removed by users.
Companies have been instructed to distribute the app via software updates to devices that have already been manufactured or are in transit.
The Indian telecom regulator has directed all major smartphone manufacturers to include the government’s Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices sold in the country. The directive, issued on November 28 and reviewed by Reuters, gives companies such as Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi 90 days to ensure the app is pre-installed and cannot be removed by users. Companies have been instructed to distribute the app via software updates to devices that have already been manufactured or are in transit. The order was not made public and was only distributed privately to select firms, according to the report.
SurveyThe directive has been criticised by legal and privacy experts as a possible overreach, arguing that it essentially denies users the choice of what runs on their devices. However, the government maintains that the mandate is necessary to strengthen telecom cybersecurity, citing an increase in scams enabled by duplicate or tampered IMEI numbers. Authorities say the Sanchar Saathi platform, which was launched in January, has already proven effective, assisting users in recovering more than 700,000 stolen or lost phones, including 50,000 in October alone, and enabling the disconnection of millions of fraudulent mobile connections.
The compliance order will reportedly be challenging for smartphone makers including Apple, whose iPhones make up roughly 4.5 per cent of India’s smartphone base. Apple has long held strict internal rules prohibiting the installation of third-party or government apps before a device is sold.
Also read: No WhatsApp without SIM: Govt mandates SIM-based access, 6-hour web logouts
What is Sanchaar Saathi portal?
Sanchar Saathi is a digital security platform developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to help citizens safeguard their mobile identities and stay informed about telecom-related risks. Available as both an app and a web portal, it serves as a central hub for managing active mobile connections, reporting fraud, and securing lost or stolen devices.
The platform offers multiple tools aimed at improving user safety. Its CEIR-based system allows people to quickly block a lost or stolen smartphone across all telecom networks, reducing the chances of data theft and aiding police in tracking the device. Through the TAFCOP feature, users can view all mobile numbers linked to their identity documents and flag any unauthorised connection for re-verification or disconnection. Sanchar Saathi also includes the “Chakshu” service, which lets citizens report suspicious calls, messages or links—an important step in combating growing digital scams. Additionally, the KYM (Know Your Mobile) tool helps buyers verify the legitimacy of a handset using its IMEI number before completing a purchase.
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Ashish Singh
Ashish Singh is the Chief Copy Editor at Digit. He's been wrangling tech jargon since 2020 (Times Internet, Jagran English '22). When not policing commas, he's likely fueling his gadget habit with coffee, strategising his next virtual race, or plotting a road trip to test the latest in-car tech. He speaks fluent Geek. View Full Profile
