Archive · 2 Dec 2025
Government Mandates Sanchar Saathi App on All Mobile Devices
The Indian government has ordered that a new app called Sanchar Saathi must be installed on all new mobile phones.
This app helps people check if their phone is real and not a fake one, and it also helps report bad things like fraud calls and lost or stolen phones.
The government says this is to keep people safe from fake phones and cyber threats.
But some people, like leaders named KC Venugopal, Aaditya Thackeray, Tehseen Poonawalla, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and John Brittas, are worried.
They think the app could let the government watch everything people do on their phones, which might not be allowed by the country's laws.
The government has 90 days to put this app on all new phones, and they have to report back in 120 days.
Some people are happy because it might stop fraud, but others are worried about their privacy and the extra work it will cause for phone companies.
The Indian government has mandated the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all mobile devices to combat cyber fraud and verify the genuineness of handsets.
Manufacturers and importers must comply within 90 days and submit a report within 120 days.
The app includes features like IMEI verification, fraud reporting, lost/stolen device reporting, checking mobile connections, and reporting international calls.
Critics, including opposition leaders and smartphone manufacturers, have raised concerns about privacy violations and operational challenges.
The government defends the mandate, stating it aims to safeguard citizens from non-genuine handsets and cyber threats.
- Who
- Department of Telecommunications (DoT), smartphone manufacturers, importers, and critics like KC Venugopal, Aaditya Thackeray, Tehseen Poonawalla, Priyanka Chaturvedi, and John Brittas
- What
- Mandate to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all mobile devices in India
- When
- Mandate issued on 28 November 2025, compliance deadline within 90 days
- Where
- India
- Why
- To strengthen cybersecurity, combat fraud, and verify the genuineness of mobile devices, but criticized for potential privacy violations and operational challenges
- App Name
- Sanchar Saathi
- Government Body
- Department of Telecommunications (DoT)
- Mandate Date
- 28 November 2025
- Compliance Deadline
- 90 days from mandate date
- Report Submission Deadline
- 120 days from mandate date
- Constitutional Article Cited
- Article 21 (Right to Privacy)
- Critics
- KC Venugopal, Aaditya Thackeray, Tehseen Poonawalla, Priyanka Chaturvedi, John Brittas
- App Features
- IMEI verification, fraud reporting, lost/stolen device reporting, checking mobile connections, reporting international calls
Sources
Congress leader KC Venugopal calls DoT’s ‘Big Brother’ App directive ‘unconstitutional’, demands immediate rollback
Sanchar Saathi mandate aimed at stopping fake handsets, cyber frauds: Govt explains DoT order on pre-installed app
Privacy concern over Centre's call to pre-install new smartphones with government cybersecurity app
Cong calls DoT direction to pre-install Sanchar Saathi app in new mobile phones 'unconstitutional'
Cong calls mandatory Sanchar Saathi order 'unconstitutional'
‘Dystopian tool to monitor every Indian’: Congress, netizens call Sanchar Saathi directive unconstitutional
Sanchar Saathi App: Why the Opposition is calling it a ‘dictatorship’ – What’s driving the backlash
