New Delhi: The Central Government has withdrawn its earlier mandate requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app, stating that the growing voluntary uptake of the cyber-security tool makes compulsory installation unnecessary.
Officials said the app, designed to protect citizens from cyber fraud and support public participation in reporting malicious online activity, remains secure, optional, and removable at any time by users.
The government clarified that Sanchar Saathi has no functions other than user protection and enables citizens to report cyber offenders, thereby strengthening “Jan Bhagidari” in safeguarding the digital ecosystem.
According to official data, the app has already been downloaded by 1.4 crore users, who collectively contribute information related to around 2,000 fraud incidents daily. Adoption has been rising sharply — with six lakh new registrations recorded in a single day, a tenfold jump in user uptake.
The mandate for pre-installation, officials said, was earlier introduced to accelerate adoption among less-aware users. However, the recent surge in voluntary downloads shows “citizens’ growing trust” in the government-backed safety platform.
“In view of the increasing acceptance of Sanchar Saathi, the Government has decided not to continue with the mandatory pre-installation requirement for mobile manufacturers,” the statement said.
