New Delhi: The Central Government has taken a major step towards curbing cyber fraud by making the Sanchar Saathi mobile application mandatory on all smartphones sold in India. According to reports, the Union Ministry of Telecommunications has instructed smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the app on all new devices.
The move aims to enhance mobile security and prevent digital scams, as Sanchar Saathi is designed to help users block lost or stolen phones, detect fraudulent SIM cards, and monitor mobile connections linked to their identity. Significantly, the app is expected to be non-removable from the device once installed.
Smartphone brands have been given 90 days to comply, and the directive has been issued to major companies including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo, and Xiaomi.
However, uncertainty remains about whether Apple will accept the order. The company is known for strictly limiting pre-installed software and only allows its own apps on iPhones. Apple traditionally does not support government or third-party apps being pre-loaded on devices, making its response to the mandate a key point of industry discussion.
The government believes that enforcing Sanchar Saathi across all devices will strengthen digital safety for millions of users as cybercrimes continue to rise.
