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The Centre issued directions to smartphone makers, mandating that the cybersecurity app ‘Sanchar Saathi’ should be pre-installed in all new phones.
The Centre has directed for all new smartphones to have the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app pre-installed. (AI-Generated Image)
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued directions to all smartphone makers, mandating the installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on all new mobile handsets manufactured or imported for sale in India.
As per a government order dated November 28, the DoT has instructed manufacturers and importers of mobile handsets to ensure that the Sanchar Saathi mobile application is pre-installed on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India, that it is readily visible and accessible to users at the time of first use, and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted.
For devices that have already been manufactured and are in sales channels in India, the manufacturer and importers of mobile handsets shall make an endeavour to push the App through software updates, the DoT said. Smartphone makers have been given 90 days to complete the implementation and 120 days to submit the report.
What Is Sanchar Saathi App?
The DoT launched the Sanchar Saathi portal in 2023 for curbing misuse of telecom resources for cyber fraud and ensuring telecom cybersecurity, while allowing the reporting and blocking of lost and stolen phones. The Sanchar Saathi app was launched on January 17, 2025, and crossed 50 lakh downloads as of August 2025.
The app enables users to check the genuineness of a mobile handset through the IMEI number, along with other facilities like reporting suspected fraudulent communications, lost or stolen mobile handsets, checking mobile connections in their name, and trusted contact details of banks and financial institutions, as per an official statement.
Additionally, it assists police authorities in tracing stolen or lost devices, prevents counterfeit phones from entering the black market, and blocks attempts at device cloning. It also enables users to report suspected fraud communications via calls, SMS, or WhatsApp – especially KYC-updating scams.
The app has helped in the recovery of more than 7 lakh stolen or lost mobile phones across the country till October. Under the initiative, more than 42.14 lakh mobiles have been blocked and over 26.11 lakh lost or stolen mobile handsets have been traced, as per its website.
How Will New Rule Impact Smartphones?
The new order will impact manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo, among others. This is part of the Centre’s efforts to promote easy reporting of suspected misuse of telecom resources and to increase the effectiveness of the Sanchar Saathi initiative.
The step has been taken to “safeguard the citizens from buying the non-genuine handsets, enabling easy reporting of suspected misuse of telecom resources and to increase effectiveness of the Sanchar Saathi initiative”, the DoT said.
About the Author
Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in int…Read More
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