Centre Govt Withdraws Mandatory Pre-Installation 'Sanchar Saathi App'

The Government has withdrawn its earlier mandate requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi mobile application on all new devices. 

The decision comes after a significant rise in voluntary downloads and public acceptance of the app, which is designed to enhance cyber safety for citizens. 

According to the Ministry, the Sanchar Saathi app is purely a security tool aimed at helping users identify and report cyber fraudsters. Officials clarified that the app does not perform any functions beyond user protection and can be uninstalled at any



time.

So far, the app has been downloaded by 1.4 crore users, contributing to alerts on nearly 2,000 online fraud incidents per day. 

The government noted a sharp surge in uptake over the last 24 hours, with 6 lakh new registrations—ten times the usual volume. 

Originally, the mandate was introduced to ensure wider access, particularly among less digitally aware users. However, with growing public trust and adoption, the government has decided to remove the compulsory installation requirement while continuing to promote cyber safety awareness.