Govt revokes order on mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi

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Dec 3, 2025 Govt revokes order on mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi Jobs & News Desk

The Ministry of Communications on Wednesday (December 3, 2025) reversed its decision to mandate pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all smartphones, just days after the order sparked widespread criticism from digital rights groups and opposition parties.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had on Monday (December 1) issued a directive requiring phone manufacturers to pre-install the cybersecurity app on all devices from March 2026 onwards, citing concerns over handsets with duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers posing threats to telecom security.

However, facing intense pushback over privacy and surveillance concerns, the Government announced it would no longer enforce the mandatory pre-installation requirement.

Surge in downloads cited as reason

In a press release, the government attributed the policy reversal to the app’s “increasing acceptance” among users. Officials said the Sanchar Saathi app witnessed a dramatic surge in adoption following the initial announcement, with 6 lakh new registrations recorded in a single day — a tenfold increase in uptake.

“Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, Government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers,” the release stated.