Jan Bhagidari: Government 'explains' why it has withdrawn mandate on pre-installing Sanchar Saathi app

Ministry of Communications has revoked the mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on mobile handsets imported or manufactured in India. This comes just days after DoT proposed to make the pre- installation of Sanchar Saathi app mandatory for mobile manufacturers. If you wondering what is behind the this backtracking, that too so soon. Is it the furore created by Opposition parties or privacy activists? None. According to PIB release announcing the revocation of mandatory installation, the government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers, citing Sanchar Saathi's increasing acceptance in India. Ministry said in a statement that the government had with an intent to provide access to cyber security to all citizens had mandated pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones.

Why government has removed mandate on pre-installing Sanchar Saathi app

In its statement, the ministry said, "Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, Government has decided not to make the pre- installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers." The ministry release also gives numbers citing increasing acceptance of the app. "So far 1.4 crore users have downloaded this app and are contributing to information on 2000 fraud incidents per day. The number of users has been increasing rapidly and the mandate to install the app was meant to accelerate this process and make the app available to less aware citizens easily. Just in last one day, 6 lakh citizens have registered for downloading the App which is a 10x increase in its uptake. This is affirmation of faith by citizens on this App for protecting themselves provided to them by the Government," says the official release.




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. There is no other function other than protecting the users in the app and they can remove the app whenever they want. This has been clarified by Government," the release further said.

'Sanchar Saathi app is not a spy tool'

Earlier today, speaking in the Parliament, the Union minister said, "Neither snooping is possible with the Sanchar Saathi app nor will it ever be. The government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji is committed to giving the public full control and authority over their security. The success of Sanchar Saathi and its widespread use is the result of the trust and participation of the public." Replying to a question by Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda in Lok Sabha, the Union Minister added, "I want to keep all the facts in front of the nation. We have one billion (mobile) users, but there are elements who use it in a negative manner. It is the government's duty to keep the citizens safe. Sanchar Saathi portal was started in 2023 with this mind, and the app was brought in 2025... We decided to give a choice to all the citizens. If the app is on your phone, it does not mean it will operate automatically. Till the user registers in the app, it will not operate."

What is Sanchar Saathi app

Sanchar Saathi app is part of Sanchar Saathi platform, which is a citizen-centric initiative of Department of Telecommunications (DoT) to empower mobile subscribers, strengthen their security and increase awareness about citizen centric initiatives of the Government. Sanchar Saathi is available in form of Mobile App and web portal (www.sancharsaathi.gov.in). Sanchar Saathi provides various citizen-centric services. It facilitates citizens to report the suspected fraud communications with the intention of defrauding telecom service users for cyber-crime, financial frauds, non-bonafide purpose like impersonation or any other misuse through Call, SMS or WhatsApp. Few examples of suspected fraud communications are communication related to impersonation as DoT / TRAI, police, Government official, suspected investment & trading, KYC & Payment related to Bank / Electricity / Gas / Insurance etc.

The app also facilitates tracing of the lost/stolen mobile devices. This also facilitates blocking of lost/stolen mobile devices in network of all telecom operators so that lost/stolen devices cannot be used in India. If anyone tries to use the blocked mobile phone, its traceability is generated. Once mobile phone is found it may be unblocked on the App or portal for its normal use by the citizens.