Can delete Sanchar Saathi; will not operate without registration: Jyotiraditya Scindia
The government has announced that it will no longer require mobile manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi on all new smartphones.
The decision comes hours after union telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia addressed the Lok Sabha, clarifying that “Snooping is neither possible, nor will it ever be”. Earlier reporting noted: The statement also stresses what telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, said in the Parliament that Sanchar Saathi app is not a snooping or surveillance tool. “The app is secure and purely meant to help citizens from bad actors in the cyber world,” release stated. “It helps in “Jan Bhagidari” by all citizens in reporting on such bad actors and actions while protecting users themselves. This has been clarified by Government,” the release further said.
The clarification came after a directive asking smartphone makers to pre-install the app on new phones that will be sold in the country sparked concerns around privacy and potential surveillance. There is no other function other than protecting the users in the app and they can remove the app whenever they want.
What is Sanchar Saathi app
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued the directive on November 28, 2025, under the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, making it mandatory for all smartphones sold in the country to come pre-installed with the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app. The Sanchar Sathi platform has helped recover over 700,000 lost phones, block more than 3.7 million stolen devices, and terminate 30 million fraudulent mobile connections, according to the government.
Launched in January, Sanchar Saathi is described by DoT as a “citizen centric initiative” designed to help mobile subscribers and strengthen their security against telecom-related cyber threats. The initiative by citing the prevalence of duplicate or spoofed IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers, which pose serious cybersecurity threats, according to DoT. This marked the first time India has required state-backed software on all mobile devices. The department also notes that India’s large second-hand mobile device market has seen cases of stolen or blacklisted devices being resold, making purchasers unwitting participants in crime.