New Delhi: The Union government has issued an important clarification on the contentious Sanchar Saathi mobile application, stating that users are not obligated to keep the app on their devices and may delete it if they do not wish to use it. The assurance comes at a time when opposition parties, digital-rights groups, and several smartphone manufacturers have expressed strong concerns about privacy and mandatory pre-installation.
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia addressed the growing backlash by reaffirming that the app is entirely optional. He emphasized that the Sanchar Saathi platform is intended purely for public benefit and not for surveillance. “Users can delete the app if they don’t want it. It is optional. Our only aim is to introduce the tool to citizens for their protection,” he said during a media briefing.
Scindia added that the platform does not permit call monitoring or any form of snooping, countering allegations that the app might serve as a surveillance gateway.
Despite the minister’s reassurance, ambiguity remains due to a recent order issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) on November 28. The directive requires all smartphone manufacturers and importers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on every device sold in India. It also instructs companies not to disable or restrict its core functions, raising questions about how users can freely delete the app without impacting the system-level mandates.
This apparent contradiction has led to widespread confusion and sparked a new round of privacy-related debates across the country. Critics argue that an app cannot truly be optional if its functions cannot be disabled.
Opposition parties have strongly opposed the directive, calling it an infringement on the constitutional right to privacy. Leaders warned that pre-loading a government app even one intended for safety sets a worrying precedent.
Digital-rights activists have echoed the concerns, highlighting that forced installation, even with delete options, may allow for background processes or permissions that compromise user autonomy.
Sanchar Saathi was introduced as a national cyber-safety measure, offering tools for:
• Tracking lost or stolen mobile phones
• Identifying all mobile connections registered under a user’s name
• Reporting suspicious or fraudulent numbers
• Blocking unauthorized SIM cards
Officials claim the app has aided law-enforcement agencies in curbing cyber fraud and recovering lost devices, suggesting that large-scale adoption could enhance public safety.
Reports indicate that several global smartphone companies including major foreign manufacturers are prepared to push back against the mandate. Pre-installation of unverified third-party apps often violates internal device security policies and global compliance norms.
Some companies are reportedly exploring legal or technical avenues to avoid forced integration of the app into device systems, especially if the DoT does not revise its directive.
The government’s statement has offered temporary relief to users, but key questions still linger:
• If users delete the app, will the underlying system functions remain active?
• Will the DoT withdraw or amend the directive mandating pre-installation?
• How will smartphone manufacturers comply without violating global security frameworks?
As the Sanchar Saathi dispute continues, citizens, manufacturers, and privacy experts await clearer guidelines. For now, the government maintains that the app is a voluntary safety tool but the regulatory contradiction ensures that the debate is far from over.