In a significant regulatory move under the Telecom Cyber Security (TCS) Rules, India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed all mobile handset manufacturers and importers to pre-install the government’s Sanchar Saathi application on every device sold in the country. The directive, issued on November 28, 2025, aims to aggressively counter the rising menace of cyber fraud, phone theft, and the proliferation of devices with tampered or spoofed IMEI numbers.
The mandate requires the Sanchar Saathi app to be fully visible, functional, and enabled when a user first powers on a new phone, and explicitly prohibits manufacturers from allowing users to disable or restrict its functionality. Companies have been granted a period of 90 days to implement this change, with a final compliance report due within 120 days. For handsets already in the supply chain, manufacturers are instructed to make “all possible efforts” to push the app through software updates.
The primary objective is to safeguard India’s vast mobile ecosystem of over a billion users. Spoofed IMEI numbers are a critical threat, as they compromise device traceability and are frequently exploited in large-scale cyber-fraud operations. Furthermore, the mandatory app deployment seeks to protect consumers in the large second-hand market from unwittingly purchasing blacklisted or stolen phones.
The Sanchar Saathi initiative provides citizens with a comprehensive set of tools to secure their mobile identity and resources. Users can easily verify the authenticity of a handset using its IMEI number (Know Your Mobile feature), report suspected fraudulent calls (Chakshu feature), and request the blocking of lost or stolen phones via the central registry. Additionally, the app allows users to check all mobile connections registered in their name, enabling them to identify and report unauthorised SIMs.
While the DoT positions this move as essential for national security and citizen protection, the mandatory, non-removable nature of the pre-installation has sparked strong debates. Industry analysts note potential pushback from global manufacturers, such as Apple, whose policies often prohibit pre-loading third-party government applications. The directive also raises concerns among privacy advocates regarding government surveillance and user choice. Despite the controversy, the mandate underscores the government’s aggressive stance on strengthening telecom security in one of the world’s largest mobile markets.
