This is a massive, controversial move by the telecom ministry—a shift that is definitely going to test the relationship between the government, tech manufacturers, and the consumer’s right to privacy.
The thing is, the Ministry of Communications has ordered all major phone makers—Apple, Samsung, everyone—to pre-install their cybersecurity app, Sanchar Saathi, on all new phones within 90 days. And here’s the kicker: the app cannot be deleted or disabled.
This is not just about new devices. The government wants it pushed to phones already in the supply chain via a software update.
The Government’s Defense (Security)
The government is framing this as a necessary weapon against major telecom fraud and a safeguard for citizens. Their main points:
Blocking Stolen/Fake Phones: The app helps check for and block non-genuine or stolen handsets, which use spoofed/tampered IMEI numbers. Spoofed IMEIs pose a “serious endangerment to telecom cybersecurity.”
Fighting International Fraud: It allows users to report international calls that are spoofed to appear as Indian numbers (+91), which the government says are coming from “illegal telecom setups” that pose a threat to national security and cause financial loss to the exchequer.
Success So Far: Since its launch in May 2023, the service has blocked over 4.2 million lost devices and recovered about 723,638 phones. It worked.
The Controversy (Privacy)
Digital rights groups and opposition parties are not buying the cybersecurity angle, raising massive red flags about surveillance.
The Russia Parallel: India is now grouped with countries like Russia, which mandated a homegrown messenger app (MAX) that critics immediately slammed as a tool for state surveillance.
Deep Permissions: The Android version of Sanchar Saathi requires extensive access, including: reading/sending SMS, reading call logs and phone status, and access to files/storage/camera. The critics say an undeletable app with this much access is a potential “dystopian tool to monitor every Indian.”
The Unavoidable Nature: The order requires that the app is “readily visible and accessible” and that its functionalities are “not disabled or restricted.” This forced, undeletable nature is the core of the political storm that has now broken out.
The deadline is tight: manufacturers have 90 days from November 28, 2025, to comply. This is setting up a massive confrontation, especially with companies like Apple, who usually resist pre-installation mandates that violate their privacy protocols.
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