Government Reverses Decision on Pre-Installing Sanchar Saathi App on Devices

December 3, 2025

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday rolled back its order requiring all smartphones sold in India to come with the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app pre-installed.

The move follows growing public debate and reports that tech companies, including Apple, were considering legal challenges. Officials stated that the rollback was prompted by the app’s rapid adoption, with over six lakh downloads in 24 hours and 1.4 crore users overall.

The original mandate aimed to accelerate access to cybersecurity tools for citizens. Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified that the app is secure, solely designed to protect users from cyber threats, and can be deleted by users at any time.

“The app has no other function than protecting users in the digital space,” the government emphasized, reinforcing that user privacy remains intact.

The decision reflects a balance between promoting cybersecurity awareness and respecting consumer choice, while continuing efforts to safeguard citizens against cyber threats.