The recent controversy over the mandatory installation of the Sanchar Saathi app on Indian mobile handsets have drawn attention to the fine print of the government order.
Users on social media highlighted the Point 7(b) of the recent Department of Telecommunications (DoT) circular that mandates mobile phone manufacturers and importers must ensure the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application's functionalities are not disabled or restricted by the user or the manufacturer.
-
NDTV Profit Ignite 2026: Experts See Opportunity In Equities, Stay Bullish For Long-Term -
Buy Right, Sit Tight Does Not Work for Individual Stocks, Says Dinshaw Irani -
'Worst Is Behind': Quant MF Sees Market Bottom, Flags 'Extreme Euphoria' In Midcaps -
India's Mutual Fund Industry Could Become A $1 Trillion Opportunity, Say Fund Managers -
'Foreign Investors Are Baraatis': Raamdeo Agrawal's Take On LTCG Tax -
Stay Invested Through Market Cycles: Raamdeo Agrawal at NDTV Profit Ignite -
Ramesh Damani Remains Bullish On India For Next 20-30 Years, Sees Bargains Amid Market Weakness -
CAS Came After A Long Consultation Process: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFIT IGNITE -
Aim To Cut FPI Onboarding Time From Mth To Five Days: SEBI Chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey AT NDTV PROFI -
"I Am A Material Man In A Material World': Quantum Advisors' Ajit Dayal On NDTV Profit Ignite
The point 7(b) of the DoT circular dated Nov. 28 states the following:
Also Read | Layoffs Are Rising In Tech, But These Skills Are Helping People Unlock Better Pay
"Ensure that the pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application is readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use or device setup and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted."
The point 7(b) of the DoT circular dated Nov. 28.
After criticism, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday clarified that the Sanchar Saathi app is not mandatory for users.
"The app is completely optional. If you want to delete it, you can. If you don't wish to register, you shouldn't register and can remove it anytime," Scindia said in conversation with reporters outside the Parliament, adding that the platform does not enable snooping or call monitoring.
DoT said its attempts to mandate the installation of the Sanchar Saathi app is aimed at curbing digital fraud and rising cases of digital arrests as well as the sale of counterfeit devices in the nation's massive secondary smartphone market.
Manufacturers have been given 90 days to implement these changes and must submit a compliance report within 120 days.
As per the new order, buying a new mobile device — iPhone or Android — will see the government's security app already integrated.
The government's directive is largely towards new phone purchases. But for phones already in the system but not yet sold, manufacturers are instructed to push the app via over-the-air software updates.
This comes against the backdrop of India being a large second-hand market, where stolen or blacklisted devices are frequently resold, potentially making unsuspecting buyers accessories to crimes.
Essential Business Intelligence, Sharp Market Insights, Practical Personal Finance Advice, Daily Fuel, Gold and Silver Prices and Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
