As reported by Reuters, Apple Inc. has rejected the plan to pre-load the state-owned cybersecurity app on its smartphones. The Indian government has confidently asked the manufacturers, including Apple, Xiaomi, and Samsung, to preload their devices with a state-run app, Sanchar Saathi, within 90 days. The app is designed to monitor stolen devices, block them, and prevent their misuse.
The government also wants the manufacturers to ensure that the app cannot be deactivated. Also, the government orders the enforcement of the app on the devices already in the supply chain and manufacturing through software updates. India’s telecom ministry calls this a security measure to fight against the serious endangerment of cybersecurity. However, the critics have called it a move by the Indian government to gain access to 730 million smartphones in India.
However, Apple has refused to comply with this plan and will inform the government that it does not follow such mandates anywhere in the world, as they lead to many privacy and security concerns for the iOS ecosystem. In this article, we will cover everything about Sanchar Saathi and the impact of Apple’s resistance to it.
What is the Sanchar Sathi App?
Sachar Saathi, introduced in January 2025, is explained as a citizen-centric initiative by DoT. It is designed to empower mobile users and strengthen their security against telecom-based cyber risks. The app is available both as a mobile app and a website portal. This platform allows many services to look at safeguarding India’s 1.2 billion mobile users from cyber attacks and device theft.
As per government data, the platform has already proved itself by recovering over 700,000 lost devices, blocking over 3.7 million stolen devices, and terminating 30 million fraud mobile connections.
Why the Government Makes it Mandatory to Preload the Sanchar Saathi App?
The DoT justifies the Sanchar Saathi initiative by highlighting the presence of duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which pose crucial cybersecurity risks. The department also noted that the second-hand device market in India has seen instances of stolen or reselling of blacklisted devices. This makes buyers innocent participants in the crime.
Key Features of Sanchar Saathi
The Sanchar Saathi app offers many practical services for the users. With its Chakshu feature, users can report suspicious activities like fake scams, including government officials, banks, or police. Users can also report harmful web links received through WhatsApp, SMS, Telegram, and other channels.
Another top feature of the Sanchar Saathi app is its option to block and monitor lost or stolen mobile devices with the help of a unique 15-digital IMEI number. After blocking the app, the device becomes unusable across all the networks, even if someone changes the SIM card.
The app also allows users to check the number of mobile connections registered in their name. This helps in identifying unauthorized SIM cards. Furthermore, users can verify the authenticity of their mobile handset by scanning its IMEI barcode to ensure they have not bought any stole or fake devices.
Apple’s Plan to Contest the Mandate
The Sanchar Saathi has experienced resistance from the giant manufacturer, Apple. It does not plan to adhere to the mandate to preload its smartphone with the state-run cybersecurity app and will convey its concerns to the government. However, Android devices dominate the Indian smartphone market, and Apple’s iOS powers an estimated 4.5% of the 735 million smartphones in the country by mid-2025. A research director at Counterpoint, Tarun Pathak, told Reuters that Apple has traditionally refused these requests from governments. This suggests significant friction ahead as the 90-day compliance deadline approaches.
Sanchar Saathi Is Not Mandatory And Can be Deleted
First, the DoT directly reported that the pre-installed application, Sanchar Saathi, needs to be ‘readily visible and accessible’ to the users when device setup, and that its functionalities cannot be deactivated or limited. This raised concerns about user choice and flexibility. However, Minister Scindia quickly addressed these concerns by declaring the app as not mandatory.
If you want to delete the application, you can do it as it is not mandatory. For example, if you do not want to use this app, do not register for it. It will remain dormant and deleted when you want to. Scindia added that the government is responsible for making the app accessible to everyone, as many people are unaware of this tool that protects them from digital fraudulence and theft.
The Sanchaar Sathi wants the manufacturers to complete the adoption of the app within 90 days and submit compliance reports within 120 days. The devices that are already in the sales channels need to integrate the app through software updates. Sanchar Saathi can be installed from both the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store for users who want access to the services voluntarily.
What are the Surveillance Concerns Related to Sanchar Saathi?
The order mandating Sanchar Saathi as a mandatory, non-removable app on all smartphones quickly drew strong criticism from cybersecurity experts, digital rights groups, and the Opposition.
Based on the Financial Express report, manufacturers are warned of major operational obstacles. However, the sharper criticism emerges from privacy concerns. The app needs extensive permissions, including access to calls and messages, and to use the camera and files. This is cultivating fear and concern about the surveillance.
According to the digital rights advocates, implementing a state-run app like Sanchar Saathi on every device poses a risk to privacy. Embedding it at the system level could expand access or new permissions in the future, mainly without strong data-protection measures. Opposition leaders are criticizing this mandate as intrusive.
Aditya Thackeray from the opposition party called it dictatorship without calling it so. Whereas John Brittas made fun of it as the government’s big plan for citizen empowerment. The Congress leader also criticized the Sanchaar Saathi by calling it a snooping app and a grave breach of the privacy of citizens. She also argued that people should have the freedom to communicate with family and friends without any interference from the government.
Another member of Congress, Priyanka Chaturvedi, has called it a Big Brother move that violates the spirit of privacy rulings in India. In fact, this is the very first time that India has required a mandate app on all devices. This initiative is being compared to other countries with a more centralized digital ecosystem.
Final Thoughts
The reports on the refusal of Apple to include the app mandatorily and the criticisms that the Sanchar Saathi app has garnered can further extend the spark. Although it is yet to be known whether the app will be mandatorily preloaded in the mobile devices or will be used voluntarily. Till now, it has garnered many criticisms from the parliament members and other politicians. Apple, however, will not comply with the order and inform the government that it will not follow the mandate application of Sanchaar Saathi, as it raises a range of privacy and security concerns for the iOS systems. They declined to be named publicly as the strategy of the company is secret.











