In a significant decision that will affect millions of mobile phone users, the Indian government has ordered all smartphone companies to install a specific security app on every new device sold in the country.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued this order on November 28, 2025. The government has told phone makers that they have exactly 90 days to comply with this new rule.
The app is called “Sanchar Saathi.” Under the new directive, this app must come pre-installed on all phones. More importantly, the government has mandated that the app must be “undeletable.”
This means that once you buy a phone, you cannot remove or uninstall this app, even if you want to.
This rule applies to all major smartphone brands, including Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo.
Fighting Cybercrime
Government officials say this strict measure is necessary to protect citizens. India has a massive telecom market with over 1.2 billion subscribers, and digital fraud has become a growing problem.
The government describes Sanchar Saathi as a “shield” for citizens. Its main goal is to stop criminals from using stolen phones and to prevent scammers from using fake identities.
According to CyberSecuritynews, the Sanchar Saathi platform initially operated as a website. However, it is now being turned into a mandatory app that sits directly on your phone’s screen. It includes several powerful safety features:
- Chakshu: This is a reporting tool. If you receive a suspicious call, text message, or WhatsApp message that looks like a scam, you can report it instantly through this feature.
- Blocking Stolen Phones: If your phone is lost or stolen, the app connects to a central registry (CEIR) to block the device. This makes the phone useless to thieves because it cannot connect to any mobile network.
- Checking Connections: Users can see exactly how many mobile numbers are registered in their name. This helps you determine whether someone is illegally using your identity to get a SIM card.
While the government points out that the system has already helped trace over 700,000 lost phones, the new rule has caused concern in the tech industry.
Companies like Apple have traditionally refused to pre-install third-party software on their iPhones to protect their user experience.
Executives in the industry are reportedly unhappy because they were not consulted before this order was given. They worry that forcing an app onto phones could slow them down or hurt user trust.
There are also fears about privacy. Because the app cannot be deleted and has deep access to the phone’s system, privacy advocates worry it could theoretically be used for surveillance.
However, the government has firmly denied this, stating the app is purely for consumer safety.
The rule does not just apply to new phones. Manufacturers have also been told to send software updates to existing phones so that the app is installed on devices people are already using.
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