The Indian Ministry of Communications has reportedly instructed smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the government’s cybersecurity application, Sanchar Saathi, on all new devices and prevent users from deleting it.
The directive, privately circulated to select companies on November 28, has not yet been made public. Major manufacturers—including Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo—have been given 90 days to comply. For devices already produced or in transit, companies must push the app via software updates.
Cybersecurity Rationale
According to the government, the mandate is necessary to counter the “serious endangerment” posed by duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which are frequently linked to scams, fraud, and illegal network activities.
Conflict With Apple’s Policies
The order is expected to create friction with Apple, whose internal regulations reportedly prohibit the installation of any government or third-party app on devices prior to sale. Apple typically ships its devices only with its own native apps and has previously declined to load a regulator-recommended anti-spam app.
Though Apple commands only 4.5% of India’s 73.5 crore smartphone base, its policy stance could set up a significant compliance challenge.
How Sanchar Saathi Works
Powered by the handset’s 14–17-digit IMEI number, the Sanchar Saathi app enables users to:
verify IMEI authenticity
identify suspicious calls
report lost or stolen phones
request device blocking through a central portal
Authorities can subsequently disable network access for lost or stolen devices. Since its rollout in January, the platform has reportedly facilitated the recovery of over 700,000 mobile phones.
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