The Ministry of Communications has announced that the Government will no longer require smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app. The decision is based on the platform’s growing voluntary adoption among citizens.
This development comes just two days after the Department of Telecommunications mandated pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all mobile phones in India, followed by a ministerial clarification yesterday reiterating that the platform remains fully voluntary for users.
Purpose and Earlier Mandate
The Government had introduced the mandate to widen access to cyber safety tools, especially for less-aware smartphone users. According to the Ministry, the Sanchar Saathi app is designed solely to protect citizens from cyber fraud and has no function beyond user security. Users are free to uninstall the app anytime.
What the App Enables
Sanchar Saathi allows citizens to participate in “Jan Bhagidari” in cyber fraud reporting by flagging suspicious telecom activities and protecting themselves from cyber threats. The Government reiterated that the platform is secure, privacy-safe, and built exclusively for consumer protection.
So far, 1.4 crore users have downloaded the app, contributing information on around 2,000 fraud cases every day. The platform has recently seen a strong spike — 6 lakh new registrations in the last 24 hours, a 10x surge, which officials say reflects public trust.
Decision and Way Forward
Given Sanchar Saathi’s rapidly rising voluntary uptake, the Government has decided to withdraw the requirement for mobile manufacturers to pre-install the app on new devices. Citizens who wish to continue using the platform can do so, as the Sanchar Saathi app remains fully available on Android, iOS, and through the web portal for accessing all its services.