Government Drops Mandatory Sanchar Saathi Pre-Install, Cites Surge in Voluntary Adoption

The Ministry of Communications has decided that smartphone makers in India will not be asked to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on handsets. Officials said the change reflects strong voluntary interest from citizens. The move comes amid wider efforts to improve protection against cyber fraud and unsafe telecom activities.

The revision follows a Department of Telecommunications order issued two days earlier that had instructed pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on every new mobile phone. A ministerial note on the following day had already stressed that use of the platform stayed optional, and that users would always choose whether to keep or remove the app.

Sanchar Saathi App Purpose and Core Cyber Safety Tools

The Government originally considered mandatory installation to extend cyber safety tools to people less familiar with digital risks. According to the Ministry, the Sanchar Saathi app is built only to shield users from cyber fraud and similar threats. It does not offer any service beyond security. Users can uninstall the app whenever they wish, without any restriction.

Sanchar Saathi helps citizens join "Jan Bhagidari" in tracking and reporting fraud in the telecom space. People can flag doubtful calls, messages, or other suspicious activity through the app. Officials said the platform is secure and privacy-safe, and that it is designed strictly for consumer protection. Authorities have repeated that the app's functions focus on tackling cyber threats, not on collecting unrelated personal data.

Sanchar Saathi App Adoption, User Data, and Access Options

Government data shows 1.4 crore users have already downloaded Sanchar Saathi. Information shared through the app currently helps flag about 2,000 possible fraud cases each day. The platform has also seen 6 lakh new registrations in the latest 24 hours, a 10x jump that officials say signals growing public trust and awareness regarding telecom-related cyber risks.

With voluntary adoption of the Sanchar Saathi app increasing, the Government has withdrawn the requirement for manufacturers to ship phones with it pre-installed. People who find the service useful can still access all features. The app remains available on Android and iOS, and through the official web portal, supporting continued citizen participation against cyber fraud.