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Sanchar Saathi: The Department of Telecom has directed all companies manufacturing mobile handsets to pre-install ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app in all mobiles manufactured in India within 90 days.
2 December, 2025
Communication Saathi: The Government of India has taken a big decision to prevent mobile security and online scams. The Department of Telecom has directed all companies manufacturing and importing mobile handsets to have their fraud reporting app ‘Sanchar Sathi’ pre-installed in all new devices within 90 days. According to the instructions of November 28, after 90 days from the date of issue of the order, all mobile phones manufactured or imported in India will be required to have this app.
The app will be available in all mobile phones in 90 days
“Within 90 days of the issue of the directions, ensure that Sanchar Saathi mobile application as prescribed by DoT is pre-installed in all mobile phones manufactured or imported for use in India. This app shall be installed through software update in all such devices already manufactured,” the order said. The directions said that all manufacturers and importers of mobile handsets used in India, within 120 days of the issue of these directions, Will submit compliance report to DoT.”
How useful will Sanchar Sathi app be?
This app will help users to report suspicious calls and verify the IMEI used in the mobile device. Through Sanchar Saathi, you can also report fraud calls, lost mobile phones and trace them. Tampering with the telecom identifier, including the 15-digit IMEI number of a mobile phone, is a non-bailable offense and can be punished with imprisonment of up to three years, fine up to Rs 50 lakh or both under the Telecommunications Act 2023.
Congress expressed opposition
Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal said that the right to privacy is an essential part of the fundamental right to life and liberty. “Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT directive is beyond unconstitutional. The right to privacy is an essential part of the fundamental right to life and liberty guaranteed in Article 21 of the Constitution. A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a scary tool to keep tabs on every Indian. We reject this directive and demand its immediate withdrawal,” Venugopal said.
Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT Direction is beyond unconstitutional.
The Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and liberty, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution.
A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a… pic.twitter.com/kx33c7fmda
— KC Venugopal (@kcvenugopalmp) December 1, 2025
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