India’s telecommunications ministry has ordered main cell gadget producers to preload a government-backed cybersecurity app named Sanchar Saathi on all new telephones inside 90 days.
Based on a report from Reuters, the app can’t be deleted or disabled from customers’ units.
Sanchar Saathi, out there on the internet and by way of cell apps for Android and iOS, permits customers to report suspected fraud, spam, and malicious internet hyperlinks via name, SMS, or WhatsApp; block stolen handsets; and permit a cell subscriber to test the variety of cell connections taken of their title.
One among its necessary options is the power to report incoming worldwide calls that begin with the nation code for India (i.e., +91) to facilitate fraud.
“Such worldwide calls are acquired by unlawful telecom setups over the web from overseas international locations and despatched to Indian residents disguised as home calls,” the federal government notes on the web site. “Reporting about such calls helps the Authorities to behave towards unlawful telecom exchanges that are inflicting monetary loss to the Authorities’s exchequer and posing a menace to nationwide safety.”
The Android and iOS apps have been collectively put in over 11.4 million instances, with a majority of the installations from the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. Since its launch in Might 2023, the service has blocked greater than 4.2 million misplaced units, traced 2.6 million of them, and efficiently recovered about 723,638 units.
The Google Play Retailer itemizing for Sanchar Saathi’s Android app says it may well view community connections, run at startup, management vibration, and request entry to the next companies –
- SMS (Learn/ship SMS messages)
- Cellphone (Learn name log and telephone standing and identification)
- Photographs/Media/Information (Learn contents of USB storage and modify or delete them)
- Storage (Learn contents of USB storage)
- Digital camera (Take footage and movies)
- Gadget ID & name data (Learn telephone standing and identification)
The November 28, 2025, directive, per Reuters, requires producers to push the app to telephones which are already within the provide chain by way of a software program replace. The federal government has framed the app as essential to deal with threats going through telecom cybersecurity, together with spoofed IMEI numbers that can be utilized to facilitate scams and community misuse.
In a press assertion, the Ministry of Communications stated the pre-installation is required to safeguard residents from shopping for non-genuine handsets and allow simple reporting of suspected misuse of telecom assets. Producers are additionally required to make sure that the applying is instantly seen and accessible to finish customers on the time of first use or gadget setup and that its functionalities aren’t disabled or restricted.
“Cellular handsets bearing duplicate or spoofed IMEI pose critical endangerment to telecom cybersecurity,” the Ministry added. “Spoofed/Tampered IMEIs in telecom networks result in conditions the place the identical IMEI is working in several units at totally different locations concurrently and pose challenges in motion towards such IMEIs.”
“India has a giant second-hand cell gadget market. Instances have additionally been noticed the place stolen or blacklisted units are being re-sold. It makes the purchaser abettor in crime and causes monetary loss to them. The blocked/blacklisted IMEIs could be checked utilizing the Sanchar Saathi App.”
Will it Go the Manner of Russia’s MAX?
With the newest transfer, India has joined the likes of Russia, which mandated the pre-installation of a homegrown messenger app referred to as MAX on all smartphones, tablets, computer systems, and sensible TVs offered within the nation beginning September 1, 2025. Critics have claimed the app can be utilized to trace customers, though state media have dismissed these accusations as false.
Russian authorities have since introduced partial restrictions on voice and video calls in messaging apps Telegram and WhatsApp to counter legal exercise, with state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor threatening to dam WhatsApp utterly if the messaging platform fails to adjust to Russian legislation.
Based on the company, WhatsApp was getting used to prepare and perform terrorist actions, to recruit perpetrators, in addition to for fraud and different crimes towards Russian residents.
As of late October 2025, knowledge from the impartial monitoring challenge Na Svyazi exhibits that entry to Telegram and WhatsApp has been restricted in about 40% of Russia’s areas. Roskomnadzor stated the restrictions have been because of legal exercise, resembling fraud and extortion, and involving Russian residents in sabotage and terrorist actions.
