In a critical push to harden mobile security and reduce digital fraud, the Government of India has ordered all smartphone producers to preload the Sanchar Saathi app on every new device sold in the country. The order, issued in late November 2025, marks one of the most aggressive steps yet to protect telecom networks and consumers from scams, cloned IMEI devices, and stolen phone circulation.
But what exactly is Sanchar Saathi? Why is the government pushing it hard? And how does this decision impact every smartphone user in India?
Here’s everything you need to know.
What is Sanchar Saathi?
Launched by the Department of Telecommunications earlier in 2025, Sanchar Saathi is a citizen-centric app aimed at protecting mobile users against fraud, identity misuse, and device theft. It contains several salient features:
- Chakshu: A tool to report suspected fraudulent calls and SMS.
- IMEI Verification: This feature lets users check the authenticity of any mobile device.
- Lost/Stolen Phone Tracking & Blocking: Users can block their device across all networks and later request unblocking once recovered.
The app has already seen widespread adoption with more than 50 lakh downloads and reportedly helped in blocking 37 lakh+ stolen or lost phones while tracing over 22 lakh devices.
Given the increasing number of digital scams, the government considers Sanchar Saathi an important layer of defense against fake SIM activations and IMEI manipulations.
What the New Government Order Says
According to multiple industry reports, the government has asked major smartphone brands like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, Oppo, and others to:
- Pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices sold in India.
- Ensure that the app cannot be uninstalled or disabled by the user.
- Push the app via OTA updates for phones already manufactured, but still in supply chains
- Complete compliance within a 90-day deadline, taking the rollout into early 2026
The order reportedly went out as a confidential directive to companies, though confirmations have surfaced from several industry sources.
Why Is the Government Doing This?
In the present day, India is the world’s second-largest smartphone market with over 1.2 billion mobile subscribers. That scale brings an increasing problem of scams and cyber threats such as
- Phones with cloned IMEIs used for illegal activities
- Large-scale SIM fraud networks
- Increasing cases of device theft
- Increasing complaints about cyber harassment by unknown numbers
Government data shows that Sanchar Saathi has played a major role in disabling fake connections and recovering hundreds of thousands of devices. There is hope that mandatory availability, right out of the box, will strengthen telecom security even further.
Impact on Smartphone Brands
This is relatively easy for the Android manufacturers to implement, though it presents its concerns with storage, firmware changes, and user experience.
This could be a challenge for Apple, however. Due to strict internal policies, Apple traditionally does not allow the preinstallation of third-party or government apps before sale. In the coming months, negotiations or alternative methods of compliance may unfold.
Privacy and User Concerns
While the move aims at strengthening security, there are significant concerns it has raised.
- User consent: The inability to uninstall the app brings up questions of forced software.
- Data privacy: Critics argue that a non-removable government app could open the doors to misuse or overreach.
- Bloatware issues: Users may not appreciate more system apps they cannot manage.
Transparency over what data is collected by the app, how long it’s retained for, and by whom has already been highlighted as an issue by digital rights groups.
What this means for the user
If you are planning to buy a smartphone in 2026 and beyond, expect:
- Pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app and prohibition to remove it
- Potential software updates adding the app to your existing phone
- Easier ways to verify phones, report fraud, and track lost devices
While this move may be felt as restrictive, it also adds another robust digital protection against the alarming rise in mobile-based fraud within the country.
Final Thoughts
Compelling the Sanchar Saathi app to come preloaded is, therefore, a strong push toward a safer digital ecosystem. The initiative may be compared and contrasted with debates related to privacy and user independence. Meanwhile, it handles some of the most serious telecom security challenges in various ways faced today. As compliance rolls out across brands in the coming months, both consumers and manufacturers will be watching closely to see how this directive shapes the future of smartphone security in India.
