Newz Desk, Durgapur: The Union Telecom Ministry is preparing to mandate the installation of the government’s cyber-security and anti-fraud application ‘Sanchar Saathi’ on every smartphone sold in India, making it impossible for users to delete the app once installed. Smartphone manufacturers have already been informed about the proposal, even though no official notification has been issued yet.
According to ministry sources, the aim is to curb rising incidents of mobile-related cyber fraud, identity theft and misuse of SIM cards. The Sanchar Saathi platform, launched earlier as a voluntary digital safety tool, allows users to track their mobile numbers, check if their IDs are being used for unauthorized SIMs, block lost phones and report misuse. Making the app mandatory, officials believe, will strengthen nationwide digital safety and prevent large-scale financial scams.
Cyber Safety Push: Govt Plans Mandatory Security App for Smartphones
The move assumes significance given India’s massive smartphone user base — estimated to exceed 1.2 billion — making the country one of the world’s largest markets for both mobile manufacturing and mobile internet consumption. With such a vast ecosystem, security vulnerabilities often multiply, prompting the Centre to push for stronger, device-level safeguards.
Industry insiders say smartphone makers have sought clarity on whether the app would come pre-installed at the factory level or be automatically downloaded during device activation. They have also raised concerns about storage requirements, data privacy obligations and whether the app’s non-removable status will face pushback from consumers.
Government officials, however, argue that the mandate is necessary to ensure uniform protection across all devices and prevent users from disabling essential safety features that help authorities curb cybercrime.
A formal notification detailing the compliance framework, device requirements and rollout timeline is expected in the coming weeks.
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