India’s telecoms ministry has instructed leading smartphone manufacturers to preload all new devices with the state owned Sanchar Saathi cyber security application that cannot be removed by users. The confidential order, issued on November 28 and shared privately with select companies, signals a firm step by the government as it confronts rising cyber crime and widespread device related fraud. Smartphone makers including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo and Xiaomi have been given ninety days to comply by ensuring the app comes built into all newly manufactured devices, while units already in the distribution pipeline must receive the app through software updates. The directive mirrors global moves where governments seek to reduce digital fraud and push adoption of state backed services, similar to a recent requirement in Russia for mandatory installation of a government messaging app.
The directive has revived concerns among privacy advocates who argue that removing the ability to opt out compromises user autonomy. Mishi Choudhary, an attorney focused on technology and digital rights, said the move takes away meaningful user consent. Industry observers note that India’s telecom market, with more than 1.2 billion subscribers, presents a broad testing ground for such mandatory digital controls. Government officials cite the app’s success since its January rollout, pointing to more than seven hundred thousand recovered devices and fifty thousand recoveries in October alone. Authorities say the tool is vital for curbing cyber threats linked to duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers that enable phone related scams and misuse. The IMEI number, a unique identifier tied to every device, is central to the app’s functionality. Through access to a central registry, users can block, track or verify phones across networks, disconnect fraudulent mobile connections, and support law enforcement efforts to trace lost devices and limit counterfeit circulation in the market. Data from the app’s operations shows more than 3.7 million lost or stolen phones blocked and more than 30 million fraudulent mobile connections terminated.
Apple is positioned at the center of the debate because it maintains strict policies about preloaded software and prohibits adding government or third party apps to iPhones before sale. The company’s iOS platform accounted for an estimated 4.5 percent of India’s 735 million smartphones by mid 2025, with Android dominating the rest. Analysts believe Apple will likely resist the requirement and explore a compromise that encourages users to install the app voluntarily instead of embedding it permanently. Tarun Pathak from Counterpoint Research said Apple has historically declined to comply with such requests from governments and would likely seek a balanced outcome through negotiation. Major companies including Apple, Google, Samsung and Xiaomi did not comment on the directive, while the telecom ministry also remained silent regarding the order.
The government defends the initiative as a necessary measure to protect consumers from cyber related threats and enhance national digital safety. Officials argue that the rise in mobile related scams, unauthorized connectivity and phone theft justify mandatory deployment of security tools. The prominence of the Sanchar Saathi app in India’s broader digital security strategy reflects its role in allowing users to manage device verification and reduce misuse of network resources. By formalizing the installation requirement, authorities intend to expand the app’s reach across all future smartphone purchases, positioning it as a widely accessible option for countering fraud and supporting device tracking. The debate continues among privacy advocates, technology experts and industry players as they assess the implications of a compulsory security tool embedded into every new smartphone sold in one of the world’s largest mobile markets.
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