Sanchar Saathi Not Mandatory: Telecom Minister Clears Air Amid Privacy Row

Sanchar Saathi Not Mandatory: Can Be Deleted’: Minister Clarifies Amid “Big Brother” Row

Sanchar Saathi Not Mandatory: On the back of growing controversy and privacy concerns over mandatory pre-installation of the government’s mobile app on smartphones, Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia today clarified that the “Sanchar Saathi” app is not mandatory — and users are free to delete it from their phones if they choose to do so. The statement comes amid mounting criticism from privacy advocates, opposition parties, and consumers who fear the move could turn into a form of mass surveillance.

The clarification seeks to defuse a major political row triggered by a recent directive from the government to smartphone makers to pre-install the app on all new phones — a move that many felt undermined user autonomy and privacy.

What Is Sanchar Saathi — And Why the Controversy

The “Sanchar Saathi” app (and portal) was initially launched by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) in May 2023, with the aim of giving citizens tools to report, track, and block lost or stolen mobile phones, verify handset genuineness, track fraudulent telecom connections, and report suspicious calls or messages.

Key functions of the app include:

Blocking stolen or lost handsets via IMEI blocking (under the CEIR module).
Checking the genuineness of a handset before purchase.
Allowing users to know how many mobile connections are registered in their name, and report unwanted or fraudulent connections.
Reporting suspected fraud communications, spam, malicious web-links or suspicious international calls, thereby helping in prevention of telecom-related frauds.

According to the official portal, as of recent data, Sanchar Saathi claims that through its services: “over 42.16 lakh mobiles have been blocked, 26.14 lakh mobiles traced, and hundreds of lakhs of requests regarding connections/verification have been resolved.”

Because of these features, the government argues the app helps safeguard citizens against theft, fraud, and black-market resale of stolen or cloned phones.

However — in its latest directive (circa December 2025) — the government asked all smartphone manufacturers (OEMs) to pre-install the app on new devices, and to push it via software update to existing devices. The move was expected to cover all phones sold or circulated in India.

Critics — including industry experts, civil liberties defenders, and opposition political parties — promptly raised concerns, arguing that enforced installation and inability to delete the app would amount to an intrusion on user privacy and set the stage for state surveillance.

Minister’s Clarification: Not Mandatory, Delete If You Want

Today, Jyotiraditya Scindia addressed these concerns directly. He stated that while the government has mandated pre-installation for the sake of accessibility and security, keeping the app on the device is up to the user. If someone does not want it, they can choose to remove it. “If you don’t want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it. It is optional,” he said.

Scindia emphasized that the government’s duty was simply to “introduce” the tool to everyone; beyond that, the choice lies with the user.

This clarification marks a shift from earlier interpretations (or at least fears) that the government would force all users to retain the app, even if they did not want to.

What This Means — And What Still Remains Unclear

What is clarified / resolved

Users now have official permission to delete Sanchar Saathi, alleviating at least some concerns over enforced state presence on personal devices.
The app remains available for those who want its services — such as blocking stolen phones, verifying IMEIs, reporting fraud, etc.
The directive for pre-installation still stands, which means new phones and many existing ones may come with the app — but use is optional.

What still raises debate

Even if deletion is allowed, the fact that all phones come preloaded may make some users uncomfortable, especially given the sensitivity around privacy and surveillance.
Questions remain about how pre-installation and prior mandate interacted with user consent — especially since earlier media reports suggested the app would be undeletable.
There may be confusion among users about whether deletion will disable features like theft tracking or fraud reporting — or if deletion hinders official oversight.

Background: Why Government Pushed Sanchar Saathi — And Why People Object

The government’s push for Sanchar Saathi is rooted in concerns over cyber fraud, smartphone theft/resale, counterfeit or cloned phones (especially with forged IMEI numbers), and misuse of telecom resources. India’s phone market is among the world’s largest; with a huge second-hand market, the risk of stolen devices being resold is significant.

By offering a unified mechanism to block lost or stolen devices, verify handset authenticity, and report spam or fraudulent communications, the app aims to help law enforcement and telecom regulators curb misuse — a goal that, in principle, many find useful.

Nevertheless, critics consider the pre-installation directive (especially with earlier reports of non-deletable apps) as a potential overreach — reflecting a “Big Brother” style intrusion. Some smartphone makers (notably Apple) are reportedly resisting compliance, citing user privacy and platform policy constraints.

What Users Should Know — And Do

If you own a smartphone in India (new or old), here’s what you should keep in mind regarding Sanchar Saathi:

You are allowed to delete the app — per the Minister’s statement. So if you don’t wish to use it, you can remove it from your phone.
If you lose your phone, or suspect fraudulent activity, the app remains available and can be useful for blocking the handset, reporting spam, or verifying connections in your name.
Before buying a second-hand phone, checking IMEI genuineness via Sanchar Saathi could help avoid buying stolen or counterfeit devices.
Stay informed: given the controversy, there may be further clarifications or policy adjustments — it helps to check official sources or news updates occasionally.

Conclusion

With today’s statement from Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, at least one of the most contentious issues around the Sanchar Saathi app — its alleged undeletability — has been addressed. The app remains an optional tool that can help users block stolen phones, track fraud, and verify handsets. Whether citizens adopt it voluntarily depends on their own preferences for digital safety versus privacy.

At the same time, the debate underscores broader tensions in the age of smartphones: how to balance cybersecurity and fraud prevention with user autonomy and data privacy. As the story evolves, more clarity may emerge — but for now, deletion remains a user’s right.