Govt Makes Sanchar Saathi Mandatory: All New Smartphones Must Pre-Install Cyber-Safety App

The Department of Telecommunications has ordered all new smartphones sold in India to carry the Sanchar Saathi app by default. The move covers every handset manufactured locally or imported, and targets devices entering the market after the latest directive. Authorities aim to make fraud reporting faster and improve tracking of lost or stolen phones nationwide.

The instruction, issued on Monday to every original equipment manufacturer and importer, asks companies to keep the Sanchar Saathi app clearly visible during first use or setup. The guidelines also stress that the app’s features must not be hidden, disabled, or limited in any way for end users.

Sanchar Saathi app features and fraud reporting

Sanchar Saathi, launched as a portal in May 2023, lets users block handsets reported lost and flag malicious web links. People can also see how many mobile connections exist under their name and confirm trusted contact numbers for banks and financial institutions. These tools aim to protect users from scams and identity misuse.

According to media reports, a Department of Telecommunications official said the mobile application is designed to simplify the complaint process. "Right now, reporting time varies because users have to go to the website to report fraud or stolen mobile phones," the official added. The same official said the portal is "advanced enough" so users do not need to remember or enter an IMEI number while reporting.

Sanchar Saathi app installation, updates and compliance timelines

The app will support several services beyond loss reporting, including tools to confirm if a handset is genuine and options to report spam or suspicious communication. The Sanchar Saathi app will not ask for one-time password verification on the device, which is expected to lower friction for users facing fraud or theft.

Devices already manufactured and present in sales channels are not exempt from the policy. The government has told manufacturers and importers to deliver the Sanchar Saathi app on those handsets through software updates. The Department of Telecommunications said the step was taken to "safeguard the citizens from buying the non-genuine handsets, enabling easy reporting of suspected misuse of telecom resources and to increase effectiveness of the Sanchar Saathi initiative".

Major smartphone brands such as Apple, Oppo, Vivo, Xiaomi and Samsung are covered under the mandate. These original equipment manufacturers will have 90 days to ensure technical compliance with pre-installation rules. A detailed compliance report must then be filed within 120 days, confirming that the Sanchar Saathi app requirement has been met across all relevant models.

With Sanchar Saathi becoming standard on every new handset, users will gain direct access to loss reporting, connection checks and device verification from the first boot. The Department of Telecommunications expects this consistent presence on phones to support quicker action against fraud and help reduce circulation of non-genuine devices in India.