The Centre has withdrawn its order requiring smartphone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app, following strong criticism over privacy and surveillance concerns. The app will now remain fully voluntary, with users free to install or delete it.
New Delhi: In a major change of policy, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has taken back its earlier order that required all mobile phone companies to pre-install the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app on every smartphone sold in India.
On Wednesday, the government clarified that this rule is no longer mandatory because the app is already becoming popular on its own and is seeing “increasing acceptance” among people.
The controversy began after the DoT issued an order on November 28, 2025. That order had directed all mobile handset manufacturers to ensure that the Sanchar Saathi app was pre-installed on every new smartphone.
It had also instructed companies to send the app to existing phones through software updates. The government had originally said that this move was meant to improve digital safety and protect citizens from cyber fraud.
But soon after the order came out, digital rights activists and opposition parties questioned the decision. They raised concerns about privacy, possible surveillance or “snooping”, and the lack of choice for consumers.
Some reports even claimed that the app would be non-removable, which increased doubts about whether such a mandate was legal or even required.
While withdrawing the order, the DoT said the main aim earlier was to spread awareness and make the safety tool easily available for people who may not be very familiar with technology.
According to the DoT, this goal is now being achieved because many citizens are downloading the app voluntarily.
In its official clarification, the Ministry stated,
“The number of users has been increasing rapidly, and the mandate to install the app was meant to accelerate this process.”
To support its decision to withdraw the order, the government also shared updated numbers. More than 1.4 crore people have downloaded the Sanchar Saathi app so far.
There was also a sudden rise in popularity recently—a 10-times jump in downloads in just one day, with 6 lakh people registering voluntarily. The statement further mentioned that users are now reporting nearly 2,000 fraud incidents every day, which is helping authorities act against cyber criminals.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia firmly dismissed the opposition’s claims that Sanchar Saathi was a spying tool.
He rejected such allegations and said that calling it a “snooping app” is wrong. Addressing the criticisms directly, he described the surveillance claims as “not possible” and explained what the app actually does.
The Minister pointed out three important things about the app. First, he said that its use is completely voluntary and that
“Keeping the app on the device is strictly voluntary. Users are free to delete the application if they do not wish to use it.”
Second, the government corrected earlier rumours and said that
“the app can be removed by users at any time.”
Third, he stressed that the application has only one purpose—to keep citizens safe from cyber fraud and protect them from
“bad actors in the cyber world.”
With the latest withdrawal of the November 28 order, smartphone manufacturers no longer have a legal duty to include Sanchar Saathi in new devices. The responsibility of installing the app now lies entirely with users, which is the normal rule for any third-party application.
The DoT said the huge rise in downloads shows an “affirmation of faith by citizens” in the government’s efforts to improve digital safety.
Since people are willingly adopting the app in large numbers, the government believes that there is no need for a mandatory rule. The app continues to remain available for anyone who wants protection from telecom-related fraud.
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