Government drops mandatory pre-installation of Sanchar Saathi app on smartphones
The Department of Telecommunications announced on 3 December 2025 that pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app will not be mandatory for mobile manufacturers, citing its rising acceptance with 1.4 crore downloads.
Summary
The Government decided on 3 December 2025 not to make pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app mandatory for mobile manufacturers, after earlier mandating it on all smartphones. According to the Department of Telecommunications, the Sanchar Saathi app has been downloaded by 1.4 crore users who contribute information on 2,000 fraud incidents per day, and 6 lakh citizens registered to download it in a single day. The Government clarified that the app's only function is to protect users from cyber fraud and that users can remove it whenever they want.
Key facts
- Date
- 3 December 2025
- Decision
- Pre-installation not mandatory for mobile manufacturers
- App
- Sanchar Saathi (DoT)
- Downloads
- 1.4 crore
- Fraud reports
- About 2,000 incidents a day
- One-day registrations
- 6 lakh (10x uptake)
Practice MCQs 2 questions
According to the Government's statement of 3 December 2025, how many users had downloaded the Sanchar Saathi app?
Show answer
Correct answer: B — 1.4 crore
PIB 2198110: 'So far 1.4 crore users have downloaded this app…'
What did the Government decide about the Sanchar Saathi app on 3 December 2025?
Show answer
Correct answer: D — Not to make its pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers
PIB 2198110: given Sanchar Saathi's increasing acceptance, the Government decided not to make pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers.