Sanchar Saathi App: In a major reversal, the Union Ministry of Communications announced on Wednesday that smartphone makers in India will no longer be required to pre-install the government’s Sanchar Saathi app on new or existing devices. The move comes just a day after officials clarified that the app itself was never compulsory for users, and anyone who already had it could freely uninstall it.
This decision also follows reports suggesting that Apple was preparing to oppose the now-scrapped mandate, which would have required the company to include Sanchar Saathi on every iPhone sold in India. The government says the change is driven by the app’s growing popularity, claiming that it has already crossed over 1 crore downloads across the country.
Government Says Sanchar Saathi Has Crossed 1.4 Crore Downloads
In a new press release, the Ministry of Communications stated that the requirement to pre-install Sanchar Saathi is “no longer needed.” According to the ministry, the app has been downloaded by 1.4 crore users and is playing a major role in fighting mobile fraud, with 2,000 fraud-related incidents being reported through it every single day.
Given this “increasing acceptance,” the ministry said the earlier push to make the app mandatory on all smartphones is unnecessary.
‘It’s Optional — Delete It If You Want’ Says Union Minister
On Tuesday, Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed that Sanchar Saathi is just like any other app. Users can:
- Activate it
- Deactivate it
- Or simply delete it
“You can activate or deactivate it as per your wish… If you don’t want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it. It is optional,” Scindia told ANI.
This statement helped settle confusion after many social media posts suggested the app might become forced on users.
Apple Was Reportedly Planning to Push Back
A Reuters report earlier this week, citing three sources, said that Apple was preparing to oppose the government’s instruction to install Sanchar Saathi on all iPhones. The company reportedly planned to push back quietly, without taking the matter to court or making a public statement.
Apple also does not follow similar government-mandated pre-installation rules in other regions. For example, when Russia ordered all phone makers to bundle its MAX Messenger app in August, Apple did not adopt the requirement globally.
What the Earlier DoT Instructions Required
Just days before the U-turn, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had issued detailed instructions to smartphone makers. These guidelines stated that the Sanchar Saathi app must be:
- Visible during phone setup
- Fully functional
- Enabled for all new users
Manufacturers were given 90 days to roll out the change and another 30 days to submit a compliance report.
With the new announcement, these requirements have now been withdrawn.
Now Users Can Choose: Install or Delete the App Freely
With the government dropping the mandatory-installation rule, Sanchar Saathi will now be available only through:
- Google Play Store
- Apple App Store
This gives users full control—those who want the app for fraud protection can download it, while those who don’t want it due to storage limits or privacy concerns can skip it entirely. Anyone with the app installed can also remove it without affecting their device.
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