Mumbai: In a sweeping move that could reshape India’s digital ecosystem, the Ministry of Telecommunications has ordered all major smartphone manufacturers — including Apple, Samsung, Vivo, Oppo and others — to mandatorily pre-install the government’s cybersecurity application, Sanchar Sathi, on every new device sold in the country. Companies have been given 90 days to ensure full compliance.
The directive goes a step further than previous security guidelines: smartphone makers must embed the app in such a way that users cannot disable or remove it, making Sanchar Sathi a permanent fixture on all upcoming devices.
Sanchar Sathi, originally launched as a web portal in May 2023, has evolved into a full-fledged mobile app available on both Android and iOS. The platform was created to help citizens combat rising mobile-related crimes, including phone theft, SIM misuse, fake IMEI operations and large-scale cyber scams.
Key Features of the Sanchar Sathi App
- Block Theft or Loss: Users can instantly block a stolen or missing device across all telecom networks. The system also allows law enforcement agencies to track the location of the device if it is reactivated anywhere in India.
- Chakshu Anti-Fraud Tool: A dedicated feature for reporting suspicious calls, scam SMS, and fraudulent WhatsApp messages directly to authorities.
- Manage Connections: Citizens can check every mobile number registered under their name and flag any unauthorised connections.
- Know Your Mobile (KYM): A verification tool that lets users authenticate whether a smartphone is genuine or carrying a tampered or fake IMEI number.
According to officials, preloading Sanchar Sathi is intended to curb a surge in telecom-based cybercrimes, especially the misuse of duplicate or altered IMEI numbers used to mask criminal activity. These cloned identifiers are frequently linked to financial scams, illegal SIM operations and cross-border fraud networks.
Under the Telecommunications Act, 2023, tampering with IMEI numbers is a serious offence, punishable with up to three years in jail, fines as high as ₹50 lakh, or both.
The Department of Telecommunications has also instructed manufacturers to ensure the app is clearly visible and fully functional from the moment a user switches on their new smartphone. Authorities argue that making the app mandatory will provide immediate security benefits and empower users to safeguard themselves against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.
