Government backtracks on Sanchar Saathi amid massive backlash, says app not mandatory
PTC News Desk: Amid mounting security and privacy concerns, Union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday clarified that the activating app was entirely optional and not mandatory.
If you want, you can activate it; if you don't, then don’t activate it... If you don't want Sanchar Sathi, you can delete it. It is optional," Scindia said amid a massive uproar over the Centre's directions to phone manufacturers to pre-install the app.
A major political confrontation had erupted after the Union Government directed all mobile phone manufacturers to mandatorily pre-install the Sanchar Saathi application on every device sold or imported in India.
The union minister further said the motive behind the direction was only to ensure wider access to a tool designated to curb cyber fraud.
Sanchar Saathi is a cyber security tool launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on January 17, 2025. Currently available on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for voluntary download, it will now become mandatory on all new devices sold in India.
The app enables users to report suspicious calls, messages or WhatsApp chats. It also offers an IMEI checking feature that helps users block their stolen or lost phones. This function is expected to significantly reduce mobile-related crimes, especially those involving duplicate IMEI numbers.
India has over 1.2 billion mobile users, the largest smartphone market in the world. However, the misuse of cloned or fake IMEI numbers has contributed to rising cybercrime. The IMEI, a unique 15-digit identification code, helps authorities track devices. Criminals often clone IMEIs to hide stolen phones, commit fraud or sell them in the black market.
- PTC NEWS
