Government withdraws mandatory pre-installation rule for Sanchar Saathi App

New Delhi: The government announced that it has withdrawn the mandatory pre-installation requirement for the Sanchar Saathi App on all smartphones. Officials said the earlier mandate aimed to expand access to cybersecurity tools and help citizens guard against cyber fraud. They stressed that the app remains secure, focuses only on user protection, and can be removed whenever users choose.

Authorities explained that the Sanchar Saathi App promotes public participation by letting citizens report fraudsters in the cyber ecosystem. They added that the platform carries no functions beyond safety. So far, 1.4 crore users have downloaded it. Citizens now report nearly 2,000 fraud incidents every day through the app. According to officials, user numbers have risen sharply, and the earlier mandate sought to help less aware citizens adopt the tool more easily.

Government cites strong adoption of Sanchar Saathi App for policy change

Officials noted a sharp increase in daily registrations. Six lakh citizens downloaded the app in a single day, showing a ten-fold jump. They said this surge reflects trust in the government-developed safety tool. In view of the app’s rapid acceptance, authorities decided that mobile manufacturers no longer need to pre-install it.