Breaking: Centre withdraws mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on smartphones
Babushahi Bureau
New Delhi, December 3, 2025: The Government of India has withdrawn its earlier mandate requiring mobile manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new smartphones, the Ministry of Communications announced on Wednesday.
In an official statement, the ministry said the original directive was issued to ensure wider access to cyber-security tools and protect citizens from cyber fraud. The Sanchar Saathi app, developed to help users identify fraudulent connections, track lost mobile phones, and safeguard against digital threats, remains completely secure and citizen-focused.
"The Government, with an intent to provide access to cyber security to all citizens, had mandated pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones. The app is secure and purely meant to help citizens from bad actors in the cyber world," the ministry said.
However, noting the app’s growing voluntary adoption among users, the government has now decided that pre-installation will no longer be compulsory.
"Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, the Government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers," the Ministry of Communications added.
The app will continue to remain available for download on app stores for users seeking enhanced digital safety features.