The Indian government has rescinded its controversial directive requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all devices. This reversal comes after significant public backlash and mounting concerns that the mandate would expand state access to user devices and compromise privacy protections.
On Wednesday, the Indian telecom ministry confirmed that Sanchar Saathi, an anti-theft and cybersecurity protection application, would remain voluntary. Smartphone makers are no longer obligated to preload the app on devices sold in the country, effectively reversing a directive issued just last week.
The initial mandate, which had instructed manufacturers to integrate the app into all devices and prevent its features from being disabled, quickly ignited widespread concerns over privacy and potential state overreach. Critics argued that forcing a government app onto every smartphone, with no option to disable its functionalities, would grant authorities excessive visibility into users' personal devices.
“Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, the government has decided not to make pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers,” the ministry stated.
Despite the announcement, official notification reflecting the withdrawal has not yet been issued to smartphone manufacturers. Two industry sources involved with the proceedings told TechCrunch that manufacturers are still awaiting formal instructions.
Since its launch in January 2025, Sanchar Saathi has seen considerable adoption, with 14 million downloads to date. According to the Indian government, the app contributes information on approximately 2,000 cyber-fraud incidents daily. The recent controversy also boosted interest in the platform, with the ministry noting that around 600,000 citizens registered to download the app on December 2 alone.
The telecom ministry's latest notice follows a period of confusion regarding the app's voluntary status. Earlier this week, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia had insisted that users could delete Sanchar Saathi at any time. However, this contradicted the directive circulated among manufacturers, which explicitly stated that the app's functionalities "must not be disabled or restricted." These conflicting signals fueled criticism that the government was attempting to downplay the extent of its mandate.
The directive also raised concerns within the industry, with manufacturers privately questioning the feasibility of enforcing a permanent, system-level app without clear legal backing. Deputy Telecom Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar mentioned in media interviews that Apple did not participate in the working group for the initiative, unlike other smartphone makers.
According to marketing intelligence firm Sensor Tower, Sanchar Saathi had over 3 million monthly active users in November. Web traffic to the platform has also surged, with monthly unique visitors rising by more than 49% year-over-year.
The Internet Freedom Foundation, a New Delhi-based digital rights group, hailed the reversal as a "welcome development." However, the group urged caution, emphasizing that it awaits the accompanying legal order. They stressed that "cautious optimism, not closure," was warranted until revised directions under the Cyber Security Rules, 2024, are officially published and independently verified.
While the pre-installation mandate has been withdrawn, other components of the Sanchar Saathi ecosystem continue to expand. Recommerce and trade-in platforms are still required to validate devices through a central IMEI database. Additionally, the telecom ministry is piloting an API that would enable these firms to submit customer and device information directly to the state.
