Why in News? The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has ordered all smartphone companies to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new phones starting March 2026. This move has triggered:
  • strong criticism from digital-rights groups
  • Opposition claims of possible surveillance
  • questions about legality and privacy
WHAT IS THE SANCHAR SAATHI APP? Launched in 2023, Sanchar Saathi is an official telecom-related safety app.

Main features:

  • Report suspicious phone calls
  • See all SIMs/phone numbers linked to your ID
  • Block a stolen phone by entering its IMEI number
  • IMEI blocking tells telecom companies to stop that device from working
GOVERNMENT’S STATED REASON The government says
  • Fake or duplicate IMEI numbers on phones are a major cyber-security risk
  • Pre-installation will help users identify and report such devices quickly

HAS THE GOVT. MANDATED APPS EARLIER?

Very few times:

  • Emergency contact apps during COVID
  • There was talk of mandatory Aarogya Setu, but no official order
  • TRAI once pushed for its spam-reporting app (DND), but even then pre-installing was not required
So, forcing an app to be pre-installed is very rare in India. Is it legal to mandate the app? This is where the controversy begins. THE LAW USED The DoT relies on:
  • Telecommunications Act, 2023
  • Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024 (amended)
The 2024 amendment created a new term:
  • TIUE (Telecommunication Identifier User Entity)
? This can include anything that identifies a user by phone number: smartphones, apps, messaging platforms like WhatsApp. Why experts worry
  • If phones and apps are treated like “telecom entities,”
  • DoT gains more power over them.
POSSIBLE CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUE Experts say the order could face privacy challenges, especially under:
  • Puttaswamy Judgment (2017) ? Right to privacy is a fundamental right.
Meghna Bal (Esya Center) says:
  • Aadhaar survived legal challenge partly because it was voluntary at first
  • But forcing Sanchar Saathi on every phone makes participation compulsory, which may not pass legal scrutiny
CAN USERS UNINSTALL THE APP? The government says:
  • Users can delete the app
  • Or keep it unregistered so it remains “dormant”

But the official order says something else:

  • The app must be visible from the first use
  • Its features cannot be disabled
  • It must remain accessible
This suggests:
  • It may be a system-level app
  • It may not be fully uninstallable
WHY IS THIS RISKY? Pre-installed apps often get:
  • higher permissions
  • root-level access in the operating system
Cybersecurity experts warn:
  • Root access means the app can later receive an update and get more intrusive permissions
  • Access to phone, SMS, and camera (used for spam reporting) may become automatic
  • If the app is ever hacked, millions of phones would be exposed instantly
So the risk is not just privacy ? it’s also cyber-security. WHY ARE ACTIVISTS & OPPOSITION CONCERNED? They fear:
  • Possible surveillance
  • Increased government control over smartphones
  • Misuse of permissions
  • No clarity on data use, storage, or oversight
The core worry: If an app has system-level access, even a small misuse or breach can affect the entire population of smartphone users. UPDATE The Indian government recently withdrew an order that would have made the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app mandatory on all new smartphones following widespread criticism and privacy concerns. Installation is voluntary, and users can choose to download or delete the app at any time. The app is designed solely to protect mobile consumers and is not intended for surveillance.