Centre directs phone makers to preinstall Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on all devices

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued a new directive asking smartphone manufacturers in India to preinstall the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity application on all upcoming devices. According to a report by The Indian Express, the instruction also extends to phones already in the market, which will receive the app through a software update. Companies have been given three months to implement the requirement, although industry executives believe there could be pushback, particularly because users will not be allowed to remove the app once it is installed.

The directive covers the full spectrum of smartphone brands operating in India, including Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo. Questions sent to the DoT and the manufacturers did not receive replies at the time of writing.

A senior government official has also mentioned that the move is part of a wider plan to strengthen digital security and make it easier for users to report fraud, spam, and device theft. The rollout also aligns with the DoT’s recent instruction to platforms such as WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to adopt SIM binding. Once implemented, these apps will only work if the SIM card used during registration remains in the device, with companion services like WhatsApp Web logging out periodically.

Sanchar Saathi is already available on the App Store and Play Store, but downloading it has been optional so far. The app was introduced earlier this year and has crossed 50 lakh downloads as of August. Government figures indicate that users have been able to block more than 37 lakh stolen or lost phones and trace over 22 lakh devices through the platform.

The app’s core functions include blocking and tracking stolen phones using their IMEI numbers and providing a channel to report suspicious calls, SMS, or messages on apps like WhatsApp. Its backend system also assists police agencies in identifying stolen devices and preventing counterfeit phones from circulating in grey markets.