India Mandates Non-Removable Government Cybersecurity App ‘Sanchar Saathi’ on All Smartphones

Highlights

• India has mandated smartphone makers to preload the government’s Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on all new devices within 90 days.
• The app will be non-removable and also rolled out via updates to existing phones.
• It helps users block, locate, and track stolen phones, detect fraudulent mobile connections and has already recovered 700,000 devices.

India’s telecom ministry has issued a new directive requiring smartphone makers to preload a government-backed cybersecurity app on all upcoming devices. The move, aimed at fighting rising cybercrime, is expected to spark resistance from Apple. Meanwhile, privacy advocates have raised concerns due to its mandatory and non-removable nature.

India Mandates Sanchar Saathi App

According to a government announcement dated November 28, major smartphone brands including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi must ensure the Sanchar Saathi app comes pre-installed on every new handset sold in India. Companies have been given 90 days to comply and users will not be allowed to disable or delete the app.

For phones already in the supply chain, the ministry has directed brands to roll out the app via software updates. The order was not made public and was shared privately with select manufacturers.

A surge in online fraud and mobile-related cybercrime has pushed India to tighten digital security, mirroring similar efforts by other countries. Russia, for example, recently mandated the installation of a government-built messenger app called MAX on all new smartphones.

However, critics say India’s latest move raises serious privacy concerns. Speaking to Reuters, Technology lawyer Mishi Choudhary said, “The government effectively removes user consent as a meaningful choice,” highlighting the risks of forcing state-backed apps on millions of users.

India is one of the world’s largest mobile phone markets with more than 1.2 billion subscribers. Government data shows that since its launch in January, the Sanchar Saathi app has helped recover over 700,000 lost phones including 50,000 in October alone.

What the Sanchar Saathi App Do?

Sanchar Saathi is designed to help users block, locate, and track lost or stolen smartphones across all telecom networks using a centralised database. It can also detect fraudulent mobile connections and let users disconnect them.

The app has crossed over 5 million downloads and has already helped block more than 3.7 million stolen or missing phones. Additionally, authorities say it has enabled the termination of over 30 million fraudulent mobile connections.

The government maintains that Sanchar Saathi is a crucial tool for preventing cyberattacks, tracing stolen devices, supporting law enforcement and curbing counterfeit phones in the black market.

Apple Likely to Resist the Mandate

The government argues the app is necessary to curb cyber threats linked to duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which enable scams and network misuse. IMEI is a unique 14- to 17-digit identifier for each mobile device and is also used to block network access for stolen phones.

But Apple is expected to push back. Despite having around 4.5% share of India’s 735 million smartphones by mid-2025 (Counterpoint Research), Apple’s policies prohibit preloading any third-party or government apps on its devices before they reach customers.

A source familiar with the matter said Apple normally refuses such government requests. Counterpoint’s research director Tarun Pathak added, “It’s likely to seek a middle ground: instead of a mandatory pre-install, they might negotiate and ask for an option to nudge users towards installing the app.”

Apple, Google, Samsung, and Xiaomi did not comment on the directive. The telecom ministry also remained silent on the matter.

FAQs

Q1. What is the Sanchar Saathi app and why is it mandatory?

Answer. Sanchar Saathi is a government-backed cybersecurity app that helps block, locate, and track lost or stolen smartphones, and detect fraudulent mobile connections. India’s telecom ministry has mandated it on all new smartphones to curb rising cybercrime.

Q2. Can users remove or disable the Sanchar Saathi app from their phones?

Answer. No. The directive requires smartphone makers to preload the app within 90 days, and users will not be allowed to delete or disable it.

Q3. How effective has the Sanchar Saathi app been so far?

Answer. Since launch, the app has recovered over 700,000 lost phones, blocked 3.7 million stolen or missing devices, and terminated more than 30 million fraudulent mobile connections.

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