In a major move to bolster telecom security and curb cyber-fraud, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has announced that all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for sale in India must come with the government’s cybersecurity app, Sanchar Saathi, pre-installed. The directive, issued on November 28, 2025, gives manufacturers a deadline of 90 days to comply.
The app must be visible and accessible at the time of first use or device setup. Its features cannot be disabled or restricted by the user or the manufacturer. For devices already manufactured or in retail inventory, manufacturers/importers must push the app via software update.
What Is Sanchar Saathi, And Why the Push?
Sanchar Saathi is a state-run mobile application and portal aimed at strengthening telecom cybersecurity. Through it, users can:
• Verify the legitimacy of mobile handsets using their IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers. Report suspected fraudulent or spam calls/messages.
Report lost or stolen phones and request blocking of the device/network access.
• View all mobile connections registered under their name, helping spot unauthorized or fraudulent connections.
• The DoT argues that this measure will help curb the growing problem of fake handsets, spoofed or duplicate IMEI numbers, reselling of stolen devices, and other telecom-fraud schemes, all of which have posed a serious threat to users’ safety and to network integrity.
What This Means for Consumers & Manufacturers
• All phones sold in India, whether domestically manufactured or imported after the directive, will now ship with Sanchar Saathi pre-loaded and active.
• Users will contend with a non-removable (or at least non-disablable) app on their devices, raising questions of user autonomy and consent.
• Existing inventory and phones already in market may receive the app through over-the-air software updates, meaning many current owners might see this change automatically.
• For handset manufacturers and importers, compliance is mandatory, the DoT has asked that they submit a compliance report within 120 days of the order.
The Debate: Security vs. Privacy
Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi has labeled the mobile application a “snooping app,” further calling the move “ridiculous one.” Speaking to media ahead of the winter session, Ms Gandhi said, “"It is a snooping app... I mean, clearly, it's ridiculous... citizens have the right to privacy to send their own messages to family, friends, without the government looking at everything. They are turning this country into a dictatorship in every form. Parliament is not functioning because they are refusing to talk about anything."
Privacy advocates and civil-liberties groups have raised serious concerns. A pre-installed, non-removable app mandated by the government, on every mobile handset, may set a precedent for increased surveillance and erosion of user control. Critics argue this undermines user consent and could open the door to broader monitoring under the guise of cybersecurity. At a time when smartphones are deeply personal devices, storing private conversations, financial data, identity proofs, and more, the debate between security and personal freedom is heating up.
Meanwhile, defending the Centre’s move, BJP MP Shashank Mani Tripathi deemed the move “a very important step.” Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju also defended the decision alleging the Opposition of “creating issues to disturb the House.” Supporters of the directive see it as a proactive step to protect consumers, especially first-time buyers in India’s booming smartphone market, from fraud, theft, and fake or spoofed devices. By ensuring all phones are traceable and verifiable, the government aims to strengthen telecom safety at a structural level.
Why This Matters, Especially for Buyers
If you plan to buy a new smartphone in India in the coming months, you’ll likely receive a device with Sanchar Saathi pre-installed, and you may not have the option to disable or remove it. While this could increase security, it also means you’ll be using a handset subject to government-mandated software. For second-hand or imported phones, always check IMEI legitimacy via Sanchar Saathi (or its portal) before purchase, to avoid inadvertently buying stolen or blacklisted devices. For manufacturers and brand-loyal buyers, this mandate will affect all smartphone brands, global giants and domestic manufacturers alike.
