India is considering a massive security overhaul for smartphones, proposing 83 new standards under the Indian Telecom Security Assurance Requirements (ITSAR). While the government cites rising cyber fraud and data breaches as the primary drivers, tech giants like Apple, Samsung, Google, and Xiaomi are pushing back, calling the requirements “unprecedented” and “impractical.”
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As of January 13, 2026, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has clarified that these are part of a “routine consultation” and no final regulations have been framed.
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1. The Most Contentious Proposals
The industry, represented by MAIT (Manufacturers’ Association for Information Technology), has flagged several key areas of concern:
| Proposed Requirement | Tech Industry’s Objection |
| Source Code Disclosure | “Not Possible.” Companies argue this risks trade secrets and global privacy policies. No global precedent for this. |
| One-Year Log Retention | Storage Limits. Consumer phones don’t have the capacity to store 12 months of detailed system logs. |
| Pre-Notification of Updates | “Impractical.” Security patches must be released instantly to stop active hacks; government delays could leave users vulnerable. |
| Periodic Malware Scanning | Performance Drain. Constant on-device scanning significantly slows down hardware and kills battery life. |
| Mandatory App Deletion | System Stability. Many pre-installed apps are “core components” required for the phone to function properly. |
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2. Privacy & User Experience Changes
The government also wants to change how users interact with their device’s privacy settings:
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Background Restrictions: Apps would be strictly blocked from using the camera, microphone, or location when inactive.
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Continuous Notifications: If an app is using a sensor, a permanent notification must stay in the status bar.
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Permission Review Alerts: Phones would be required to periodically “force” users to review all app permissions to prevent “hidden” tracking.
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Tamper Detection: If a user “roots” or “jailbreaks” their phone, the device must display a permanent warning banner.
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3. Government vs. Industry Stance (2026)
The friction reflects a global struggle between national security and proprietary secrecy:
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Government View: With 750 million smartphone users, India argues it must have “digital sovereignty” to protect citizens from sophisticated spyware and financial fraud.
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Industry View: Tech firms warn that such intrusive rules will increase compliance costs, slow down innovation, and potentially force them to deviate from their global software builds just for the Indian market.
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