India drops plan to mandate pre-installation of cybersecurity app after vendor pushback

Details: Manny Pham; Category: Devices & Platforms; 03 December 2025; 34243 views

India has reversed course on its plan to require smartphone makers to pre-install its Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on new devices, following resistance from major vendors and concerns from digital rights groups.

The Ministry of Communications had quietly instructed companies including Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi to install the app on all new smartphones, as well as push it via over-the-air updates to devices already in circulation. The government also reportedly intended to prevent users from deleting it.

In a public statement, the ministry said the aim of the initiative was to “provide access to cyber security to all citizens” and strengthen protection against online fraud, noting that collective reporting of suspicious activity via the app could improve national cybersecurity.

However, the ministry denied claims that the app would be undeletable, insisting “users can remove the app whenever they want”.

Sanchar Saathi has been downloaded around 14 million times to date. The ministry said 2,000 fraud incidents are reported daily through the platform, and 600,000 new users installed the app since Tuesday (Dec 2).

Citing the app’s “increasing popularity” and “acceptance”, the government confirmed it had decided against making pre-installation mandatory for manufacturers.

Both Apple and Samsung had reportedly resisted the directive, which drew criticism from digital rights advocates who warned it could compromise user privacy. The Internet Freedom Foundation noted on X that the full mandate text has yet to be released and that further changes could still emerge under the upcoming Cyber Security Rules of 2024.