After facing strong criticism, India withdraws requirement for mandatory pre-installation of government app on smartphones

India Drops Mandatory Pre-Installation of Government App on Smartphones

India has decided not to proceed with its earlier plan that would have required smartphone manufacturers to install a government-backed app on all devices by default. The move comes after significant public criticism and concerns that such a mandate could compromise user privacy and increase government access to personal devices.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Telecommunications announced that Sanchar Saathi, an app designed to combat device theft and enhance cybersecurity, will remain optional for users. Smartphone makers are no longer obligated to include it as a pre-installed application on their products.

This announcement reverses a previous directive, circulated last week, which had instructed manufacturers to embed the app into every device and prevent users from disabling its features. The initial order quickly sparked debate over privacy rights and the potential for government overreach.

“In light of Sanchar Saathi’s growing popularity, the government has chosen not to enforce mandatory pre-installation for mobile device makers,” the ministry stated.

Despite this update, smartphone manufacturers have yet to receive an official notice confirming the policy change, according to two industry sources who spoke with TechCrunch. Companies are still awaiting formal guidance from authorities.

Since its launch in January 2025, Sanchar Saathi has been downloaded 14 million times and helps track around 2,000 cyber-fraud cases daily, according to government data. The recent controversy has driven even more interest, with approximately 600,000 people registering to download the app on December 2 alone.

The ministry’s clarification follows widespread confusion about whether the app was truly optional. Earlier in the week, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia maintained that users could remove Sanchar Saathi at any time. However, the earlier directive to manufacturers had stated that the app’s functions “must not be disabled or restricted.”

This inconsistency led to accusations that the government was minimizing the scope of its requirements. Critics argued that forcing a government app onto every device, while blocking users from disabling it, would grant authorities excessive insight into individuals’ smartphones.

The initial directive also raised practical concerns within the industry, with manufacturers questioning how they could implement a permanent, system-level app without clear legal authority.

Deputy Telecom Minister Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar noted in interviews that Apple did not take part in the working group for this initiative, though other smartphone brands were involved.

According to Sensor Tower, a market research firm, Sanchar Saathi had over 3 million monthly active users in November. The app’s website has also seen a surge in traffic, with unique monthly visitors increasing by more than 49% compared to the previous year.

The Internet Freedom Foundation, a digital rights organization based in New Delhi, welcomed the government’s reversal but urged caution. The group emphasized the need for an official legal order and stated that “cautious optimism, not closure,” is appropriate until updated guidelines under the Cyber Security Rules, 2024, are released and independently reviewed.

Meanwhile, other aspects of the Sanchar Saathi program continue to expand. Platforms involved in device resale and trade-ins are still required to verify devices using a central IMEI database. Additionally, the telecom ministry is testing an API that would allow these businesses to submit customer and device data directly to government systems.