The government has asked phone makers to preload the Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones. Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia says the app is optional, can be deleted, and does not monitor calls. This article explains what the directive means, why companies like Apple and Xiaomi are worried, how the app helps users fight fraud, and what this change means for smartphone buyers in India.
Table of Contents
What is the Sanchar Saathi directive?
The Department of Telecommunications has issued an order telling all smartphone makers to preload the Sanchar Saathi app on devices sold in India within 90 days. For phones already in the supply chain, companies have been asked to push the app through a software update.
The original order, shared privately with manufacturers, said:
- The app must be visible and enabled during first setup.
- Its main functions should not be disabled or restricted.
- Users should not be able to remove it.
This led to a strong backlash from industry bodies, digital rights groups, opposition parties, and many smartphone users, who saw it as a step toward an undeletable government app on every phone.
Minister’s clarification: “You can delete it, there is no snooping”
Amid the uproar and “snooping app” charges from the opposition, Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has now publicly clarified three key points:
- The app is optional. Users do not have to activate or register on Sanchar Saathi.
- It can be deleted. The minister has said clearly that people can uninstall it like any other app if they do not want it.
- No call monitoring or spying. He has stressed that the app does not monitor calls or enable government snooping, and is meant only for user protection against fraud and misuse.
He also highlighted that the platform has already helped disconnect crores of fraudulent mobile connections and trace lakhs of stolen phones. The government’s message is that preloading is for awareness, not to force people to keep or use the app.
Why is the app being preloaded on all phones?
According to the government, there are two main reasons behind this directive:
- Rising cyber fraud and scams
India has seen massive losses due to online and phone-based fraud. The minister has cited tens of thousands of crore rupees lost to such scams and said the state has a duty to offer tools that help people stay safe. - Problems with stolen and fake phones
The Sanchar Saathi system lets users:
Officials say India has a large second hand phone market where stolen or blacklisted devices are often resold, exposing buyers to legal and financial risks. By putting the app in every new phone by default, the government hopes more people will learn about these features and use them before something goes wrong.
How does Sanchar Saathi help users fight fraud?
Sanchar Saathi is a platform and app created by the Department of Telecommunications to give users more control over their mobile identity and devices. Some of its key uses are:
- Blocking lost or stolen phones
If your phone is stolen, you can use the app to block the device at the IMEI level so it cannot be used on any Indian network, even with a new SIM. - Checking mobile connections in your name
Many people discover extra SIMs issued in their name and misused for fraud. The app lets you see all active connections linked to your identity and report suspicious ones. - Reporting fraud calls, messages, and links
Users can report suspicious calls, SMS, messages, and links so that authorities and telecom operators can act on them. - Verifying handset genuineness
The app lets you check whether a phone’s IMEI is genuine or blacklisted, which helps when buying a second hand device.
The government claims that the system has already helped disconnect nearly two crore fraudulent connections and enabled the recovery or tracing of lakhs of stolen phones.
Why are Apple, Xiaomi and others worried?
Even after the clarification, the industry is uneasy. Global and Indian smartphone makers have flagged technical, legal, and trust concerns.
For Apple in particular:
- Apple normally does not allow any government or third party app to be pre installed at the system level.
- Company sources quoted in multiple reports say Apple plans to push back, arguing that such a mandate would clash with its privacy and security rules worldwide.
Android manufacturers like Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo are also affected. They fear that:
- Allowing a permanent government app may set a precedent for more compulsory apps in the future.
- System level access could raise privacy and data safety questions, especially if the app needs broad permissions like call logs, SMS, storage, and device ID, as seen in store listings.
- Sudden directives without consultation increase regulatory uncertainty and may affect software design and update cycles globally.
Industry bodies are expected to seek clearer written guidance that matches the minister’s public statement, especially around uninstalling the app and limiting its access and functions.
What are users and activists worried about?
Users and civil society groups have raised privacy and consent concerns:
- Fear of hidden surveillance
Opposition leaders and activists have described the move as intrusive and even called it unconstitutional, warning that a mandatory state app with deep permissions can be misused over time. - “Functional creep”
Experts point to the risk that a tool built for fraud protection could gradually add more features and become a general tracking or data collection tool, especially if there are no strong legal safeguards. - Lack of consultation and transparency
The DoT order was initially not published openly and was shared privately with select companies, which has added to mistrust.
The minister’s clarification that the app can be deleted and does not snoop on calls is aimed at calming exactly these fears. However, many argue that the legal order itself must be updated to reflect this, and that independent audits of the app’s code and data practices would help build public confidence.
What does this mean for smartphone buyers?
For people planning to buy a smartphone in the coming months, here is what this change could mean in practical terms:
- You will likely see Sanchar Saathi on new phones by default
Most new devices, across price segments and brands, are expected to ship with the app already installed, often highlighted during the first setup screen. - You can ignore it or delete it if you choose
If manufacturers follow the minister’s clarification, you should be able to: - It can be a useful safety tool if you decide to keep it
For many users who are not very tech savvy, having a simple official app to block a stolen phone or check unknown connections in their name can be genuinely helpful. - Expect continuing debate and possible changes
As Apple and others negotiate with the government and as civil society keeps pressing for privacy safeguards, the exact rules may evolve. Buyers should watch for updated settings, permission changes, and clear uninstall options in future software updates.
In short, Sanchar Saathi is turning from a little known safety app into a central part of India’s smartphone story. The government wants it on every device to fight fraud and phone theft, while promising that it will not be used for snooping and can be deleted. Users now have to decide whether they trust and want to use it, or prefer to remove it and rely on other ways to stay safe online.
Conclusion
Sanchar Saathi has moved from a niche security tool to a major point of debate in India’s tech space. The government says preloading it will help people fight rising fraud, protect their identity, and check stolen or fake devices. Critics worry about privacy, consent, and the precedent of a state-mandated app on every phone. The minister’s assurance that the app is optional, removable, and not a surveillance tool has eased some of the tension, but the written directive still needs clarity to match those claims. Smartphone makers are pushing for that clarity too, since the mandate affects both their software practices and global policies. For users, the app can be helpful if they choose to keep it, and harmless if they delete it. How this story settles will depend on updated guidelines, transparent safeguards, and whether the government can maintain trust while expanding digital security tools.
Source: What is Sanchar Saathi, the app that government wants Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi and others to preload on smartphones & Sanchar Saathi Explained: What It Is And Why It Is Being Made Mandatory
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