The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made it mandatory for all new mobile phones manufactured or imported for sale in India to come with the Sanchar Saathi app pre-installed. The directive, issued on Monday, was sent to all original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and importers across the country.
According to the order, manufacturers must ensure that the app is easily visible and accessible to users during the initial device setup. They have also been instructed to guarantee that none of the app’s features are restricted or disabled on new handsets.
What Is the Sanchar Saathi App?
Launched in May 2023, Sanchar Saathi is a government-backed platform designed to help consumers safeguard their mobile identity and report telecom-related fraud. The portal offers a range of security and verification features:
- Report and block lost or stolen mobile phones, and report malicious web links.
- Check the number of mobile connections registered in a user’s name.
- Verify the trusted contact details of banks and financial institutions.
- Report fraud easily without needing to remember the device’s IMEI number.
- Verify whether a handset is genuine or counterfeit.
- Report suspicious communication, spam calls, or messages.
- Report an international call appearing with an Indian number—without requiring OTP verification.
A DoT official earlier told Hindustan Times that the app would significantly simplify fraud reporting. Since users currently have to visit the website to report issues, app-based reporting is expected to reduce delays and improve response time.
Massive Impact Already Visible
The Sanchar Saathi platform has already seen strong adoption and results, according to the portal’s official data:
- Over 42.14 lakh mobile phones have been blocked.
- More than 26.11 lakh stolen or lost phones have been successfully traced.
- The portal has received over 288 lakh requests from users checking mobile connections registered in their names; 254 lakh requests have been resolved.
- The app has crossed 1.14 crore registrations, with over 1 crore downloads on Google Play Store and 9.5 lakh downloads on the Apple App Store.
Mandatory Installation for All New Phones
For devices already manufactured and currently in retail supply chains, the government has instructed companies to roll out the Sanchar Saathi app via software updates.
The DoT said the move will “safeguard citizens from buying non-genuine handsets, improve reporting of telecom misuse, and increase the overall effectiveness of the Sanchar Saathi initiative.”
Major smartphone makers — including Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Vivo, and Oppo — now have 90 days to comply with this new requirement. A compliance report must be submitted within 120 days, according to an earlier HT report.
The initiative is part of the government’s broader push to curb mobile-related fraud, enhance consumer protection, and strengthen security across India’s rapidly growing digital ecosystem.