India Govt U-Turn: Sanchar Saathi App Now Optional After Digital Surveillance
4th December 2025, Kathmandu
The Indian government has officially revoked its directive that would have made the pre-installation of the state-developed ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app mandatory on all new smartphones sold in the country.
India Govt U-Turn Sanchar Saathi App
The decision to withdraw the order came afteIndia Govt U-Turn Sanchar Saathi App r just a few days of intense public scrutiny, raising significant debates over digital privacy and potential government surveillance.
The initial instruction required phone manufacturers to make the cybersecurity app compulsory within 90 days. However, critics, including opposition politicians and digital rights activists, quickly labeled the move as an attempt at “digital espionage” and an overreach of state authority into citizens’ personal devices.
The Debate: Security vs. Surveillance
The government maintained that the app was a necessary measure to combat telecom fraud. Its stated goals included tracking stolen phones, preventing the sale of devices with fake IMEI numbers, and monitoring the misuse of telecom resources.
Officials cited data showing the app had already helped trace and block over 2.6 million lost or stolen handsets.
However, the primary concern of privacy advocates was the inability of users to uninstall or disable the app, effectively turning every new smartphone into a device carrying state-mandated software.
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They argued that such a model is unprecedented in democratic nations and poses a serious threat to user data and constitutional rights.
The U-Turn
Following the escalating controversy, India’s Ministry of Communications announced the retraction of the mandate.
The government cited the app’s “increasing acceptance” among citizens with millions of users already downloading it voluntarily as the reason for making the pre-installation optional.
This policy reversal underscores the growing importance of digital civil liberties and the pressure that public opinion can exert on governmental decisions regarding technology and citizen data.
The choice to install ‘Sanchar Saathi’ now remains entirely with the individual user.
For more: India Govt U-Turn Sanchar Saathi App
