Indian Government Makes Sanchar Saathi Mandatory on Every New Phone, With No Option to Uninstall
This move by the telecom ministry is huge—and deeply contentious. It’s a decision that’s likely to strain the dynamic between the government, smartphone manufacturers, and consumers who care about their privacy.
The Ministry of Communications has directed all major smartphone brands—Apple, Samsung, and others—to ship every new device with the government’s cybersecurity app, Sanchar Saathi, pre-installed within the next 90 days. And the most controversial part: users won’t be able to delete or disable it.
The policy doesn’t stop with upcoming devices either. The government also wants the app added to phones already circulating in the supply chain through a software update.
The Government’s Justification (Security)
Officials say this is a critical step to combat telecom-related crimes and protect citizens. Their key arguments include:
- Stopping Stolen or Fake Devices:
The app can detect and block counterfeit or stolen phones that rely on altered or spoofed IMEI numbers—a practice the government describes as a major threat to telecom cybersecurity. - Curbing International Scam Calls:
It lets users report overseas scam calls disguised as Indian numbers (+91). According to the government, such calls often originate from illegal telecom networks, which not only threaten national security but also cause financial losses to the state. - Proven Effectiveness:
Since its rollout in May 2023, Sanchar Saathi has already blocked more than 4.2 million lost devices and helped recover around 723,638 phones—evidence, officials argue, that the system works.
The Controversy (Privacy)
Digital rights groups and opposition parties are not buying the cybersecurity angle, raising massive red flags about surveillance.
- The Russia Parallel: India is now grouped with countries like Russia, which mandated a homegrown messenger app (MAX) that critics immediately slammed as a tool for state surveillance.
- Deep Permissions: The Android version of Sanchar Saathi requires extensive access, including: reading/sending SMS, reading call logs and phone status, and access to files/storage/camera. The critics say an undeletable app with this much access is a potential “dystopian tool to monitor every Indian.”
- The Unavoidable Nature: The order requires that the app is “readily visible and accessible” and that its functionalities are “not disabled or restricted.” This forced, undeletable nature is the core of the political storm that has now broken out.
The deadline is tight: manufacturers have 90 days from November 28, 2025, to comply. This is setting up a massive confrontation, especially with companies like Apple, who usually resist pre-installation mandates that violate their privacy protocols.
