Minister Scindia Clarifies Sanchar Saathi Is Optional, Can Be Deleted Anytime

Key Points

• Minister Scindia stated app deletion is user’s choice, contradicting DoT’s “non-removable” directive from November 28
• App is designed solely for fraud prevention and SIM/phone security, not personal data collection or surveillance
• Sanchar Saathi has blocked 37.28 lakh lost or stolen phones and traced 22.76 lakh devices as of September 2025
• However, Internet Freedom Foundation raised red flags about automatic registration on Android devices without explicit user consent
• Government maintains distinction between app installation (mandatory on new devices per DoT order) versus app usage and registration (voluntary)
• Confusion stems from DoT directive explicitly stating app “functionalities are not disabled or restricted” versus Minister’s claim of optional use
• App launched January 2025, achieved 1.14 crore registrations and 1 crore downloads by early December 2025

The Contradiction: DoT’s Directive Versus Minister’s Clarification

The Department of Telecommunications issued a directive on November 28, 2025, mandating that all smartphone manufacturers pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices within 90 days, with functionalities “not disabled or restricted”. However, on December 2, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia made a surprising clarification stating that the app is “completely optional” and users can delete it anytime without any mandatory registration requirement. This apparent contradiction has created confusion about the app’s actual status, with the government attempting to distinguish between mandatory installation (manufacturer responsibility) and voluntary usage (user choice).

Scindia told reporters outside Parliament, “If you want to delete the app, you can, it is not mandatory. For instance, if you don’t want to use the app, don’t register for it, it will stay dormant, and delete it if you want to”. However, this statement conflicts directly with the DoT’s explicit instruction to manufacturers ensuring app functionalities remain “readily visible and accessible” without being “disabled or restricted”.

Understanding the Government’s Two-Pronged Approach

The government appears to be making a technical distinction between two separate aspects of the Sanchar Saathi mandate:

1, Installation (Non-negotiable): Manufacturers must pre-install the app on all new phones sold in India, and software updates must push it to existing devices. This aspect is mandatory and non-optional for device makers.

2, Usage (Voluntary): Individual users can choose not to register, keep the app dormant, or delete it from their devices, according to Minister Scindia’s clarification.

This distinction allows the government to maintain that it is not forcing usage while still mandating the app’s presence on devices. However, privacy advocates and opposition parties argue this distinction is meaningless if the app achieves “system-level” or “root-level” access required to remain non-removable.

Minister Scindia’s Complete Clarification On App Features

Minister Scindia emphasized that Sanchar Saathi serves one purpose, protecting citizens from digital fraud and telecom misuse, without collecting personal information. “The app is designed solely to protect citizens and prevent potential fraud related to their SIM cards/phones. It is not intended to collect personal information or compromise their privacy,” Scindia clarified. He further noted that the government’s primary responsibility is ensuring all citizens have access to this protective tool, stating, “Every citizen in the country does not know that this app exists to protect them from digital frauds and theft, and it is our responsibility to make the app available to everyone”.

What Sanchar Saathi Actually Does

The Sanchar Saathi app, launched in January 2025, provides users with comprehensive cybersecurity and fraud prevention tools:

IMEI Verification & Device Authentication: Users can verify mobile handset authenticity using the device’s unique 15-digit IMEI number, preventing counterfeit phones from entering the market.

Lost or Stolen Phone Blocking: Citizens can block or trace lost/stolen phones through the IMEI number, with the platform blocking 37.28 lakh devices and tracing 22.76 lakh phones as of September 2025.

Fraudulent Communications Reporting: Users report spam calls, SMS, phishing links, WhatsApp messages, and other malicious communications through the app.

Check Active Mobile Connections: Users can verify all mobile numbers issued under their name, helping detect unauthorized SIM activations.

Police Investigation Support: Information about suspicious devices assists law enforcement in criminal investigations and fraud prevention.

Trusted Contact Database: Access to verified bank and financial institution contact details prevents caller spoofing fraud.

Performance Metrics Demonstrate App’s Growing Adoption

The app’s rapid adoption, exceeding 1 crore downloads within 11 months of launch, demonstrates user interest in cybersecurity tools even before the mandatory pre-installation directive.

Privacy Concerns Persist Despite Minister’s Assurances

Despite Scindia’s reassurances, digital rights organizations have flagged significant privacy and surveillance concerns about Sanchar Saathi. The Internet Freedom Foundation, a Delhi-based digital rights group, raised critical red flags about the app’s design and access permissions.

Key Privacy Concerns Identified:

Automatic Registration Without Explicit Consent: On Android devices, registration with the phone number happens automatically without users pressing any button, as the app detects the active mobile number and sends automatic SMS for registration to the DoT.

System-Level Access Requirements: For the app to remain non-removable and function as a mandatory pre-installed component, it would require system-level or root-level access similar to carrier or OEM system apps, eroding normal data protection between applications.

Data Access Scope: The app’s privacy policy and requested permissions indicate potential access to sensitive user data beyond what is necessary for IMEI verification and fraud reporting.

Government Exemptions Under Data Protection Act: The government and its agencies are eligible for blanket exemptions under India’s Data Protection Act, raising concerns about whether Sanchar Saathi data could be accessed by state agencies without user knowledge.

Opposition Voices Growing Concerns

Opposition parties have vehemently criticized the Sanchar Saathi mandate as potential state surveillance, demanding immediate rollback. Congress General Secretary K.C. Venugopal argued that the right to privacy is fundamental and that an uninstallable government app could become “a means of tracking every citizen’s activities”. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aditya Thackeray termed it “unannounced dictatorship,” while Congress MP Karti Chidambaram compared it to “Pegasus++,” referring to the Israeli spyware controversy.

Global Precedent, Russia’s MAX App Mandate

India is not the first nation to mandate pre-installation of state-backed applications on smartphones. Russia recently directed smartphone companies to pre-install its state-backed messaging platform MAX, positioned as a rival to WhatsApp, which critics argue could be used to track users. This precedent suggests the government may be pursuing a strategic technology control policy, though the official framing emphasizes cybersecurity benefits.

What Smartphone Manufacturers Face

The Department of Telecommunications has given smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Samsung, Google, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi, 90 days (until February 26, 2026) to ensure Sanchar Saathi pre-installation on all new devices. For phones already manufactured and in distribution channels, manufacturers must push the app through software updates. Failure to comply attracts penalties under the Telecommunications Act 2023 and Telecom Cyber Security Rules 2024, with tampering charges carrying up to 3 years imprisonment and ₹50 lakh fines.

Manufacturers have raised concerns that achieving non-removable status while maintaining app functionality would require significant operating system-level modifications. Some argue this violates user autonomy and creates security vulnerabilities by requiring system-level access for a single application.

The Unresolved Tension, Mandate Versus Choice

The core issue remains unresolved, how can an app be simultaneously mandatory to install yet optional to use ? If Sanchar Saathi achieves system-level access required to prevent removal, users technically cannot delete it, contradicting Minister Scindia’s clarification. Conversely, if users can genuinely delete the app, then the DoT’s “non-removable” directive becomes meaningless.

This tension suggests either the DoT directive or the Minister’s clarification will require modification or clarification. The government will likely need to provide definitive guidance on whether system-level access restrictions supersede user deletion rights.

Minister Scindia’s December 2 clarification that Sanchar Saathi is “optional” and “can be deleted” represents the government’s attempt to address mounting privacy and surveillance concerns. However, this statement appears to contradict the DoT’s explicit directive mandating non-disabled, non-restricted installation. While the app’s cybersecurity benefits are legitimate, with 37.28 lakh phones blocked and 22.76 lakh traced, the unresolved tension between mandatory installation and voluntary usage creates significant ambiguity. Digital rights advocates, opposition parties, and privacy-conscious users await clarification on whether system-level restrictions will truly allow user deletion, or whether the app will effectively remain locked on Indian smartphones.