🔍 Understanding Sanchar Saathi: An Overview
Sanchar Saathi is a cybersecurity and telecom protection tool introduced by India's Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in 2025. It allows users to verify unfamiliar SIM cards or connections linked to their accounts, flag potential scams, prevent access to stolen devices using IMEI blocking, manage unwanted calls or texts, and safeguard against telecom fraud. Official DoT data indicates that by August 2025, the app had achieved over 5 million downloads in just six months since its debut.
📰 Recent Developments: Launch and Public Outcry
On November 28, 2025, the DoT announced a requirement for all new smartphones sold in India to come with Sanchar Saathi pre-installed. The goal was to simplify fraud reporting, combat counterfeit IMEIs, curb stolen devices, and address unauthorized SIM usage. This directive affected all manufacturers and importers, such as Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo, stipulating that the app must be visible upon initial setup and its features couldn't be disabled.
However, this decision sparked immediate criticism:
- Concerns about privacy and monitoring: Opponents, including advocacy groups and political rivals, compared it to surveillance software, claiming a government-endorsed app on every phone could enable widespread spying.
- Worries over unwanted software: Confusion arose about whether the app could be removed, with many assuming it was permanent bloatware.
The announcement also ignited political debate, with opposition factions highlighting it as a significant threat to personal privacy.
Policy Shift: Current Situation
By early December 2025 (around December 2–3), the government backtracked, rescinding the mandatory pre-installation rule. Sanchar Saathi is now voluntary; manufacturers and users have the freedom to include or remove it if it's pre-loaded. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia emphasized that the app's purpose is solely consumer safety—detecting fraud, tracing stolen or fake devices—and not for spying. Following the initial announcement, app downloads surged dramatically, from a typical daily figure of about 60,000 to roughly 600,000 in one day.
⚠️ Ongoing Discussion: Views from Both Sides
✅ Government and Proponents' Arguments:
- The app serves as a vital tool against scams, illicit SIM activations, and counterfeit or stolen phones in a country prone to telecom crimes.
- It's entirely optional; individuals can remove it without issues.
- The spike in downloads post-announcement shows public interest in such protective measures.
❗ Critics' Concerns:
- Even if removable, mandating pre-installation on all devices felt like unwarranted government access to personal gadgets.
- Many everyday users might not bother uninstalling it, potentially granting the state access to data or permissions.
- This could set a precedent for mandatory government software on private devices, eroding civil liberties.
📌 Implications for Indian Smartphone Owners
Currently, Sanchar Saathi isn't required on new phones—even if manufacturers add it, you can freely delete or uninstall it without consequences. If you choose to keep it, it offers features like verifying SIMs and devices, reporting spam or fraud, and blocking stolen phones via IMEI, which could be handy for those worried about telecom scams or theft. That said, opting for a government-backed app, even willingly, involves trusting it's strictly for security and not broader monitoring. Weigh the pros against your privacy preferences.