New Delhi, December 2, 2025: Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday clarified that users can freely delete the Sanchar Saathi application from their smartphones if they wish, stressing that the app is entirely voluntary and designed to help citizens safeguard their privacy and protect themselves from online fraud. The clarification comes amid criticism from opposition parties and privacy advocates, who have expressed concerns over mandatory preloading of the app on mobile devices.

“This is a completely voluntary and democratic system—users may choose to activate the app and avail its benefits, or if they do not wish to, they can easily delete it from their phone at any time,” Scindia wrote on X, adding that the government’s aim is to enhance cybersecurity and protect users from fraudulent activities.

About Sanchar Saathi

The Sanchar Saathi portal was launched in May 2023 by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) and is designed to help users check all mobile connections linked to their identity, report fraudulent numbers, and trace lost or stolen phones. The mobile application for the platform was launched earlier this year, expanding its reach to smartphone users across the country. According to government data, the portal has been used by more than 20 crore people, and over 1.5 crore users are currently connected to the app. Reports submitted through the platform have led to the disconnection of 1.43 crore phone numbers under the ‘Not My Number’ feature and the removal of nearly 41 lakh fraudulent connections. Additionally, the app has helped trace 26 lakh lost or stolen phones, returning 7.23 lakh of them to their owners, and enabled the blocking of 6.2 lakh IMEIs linked to fraud.

Opposition Criticism: Calls App ‘Snooping Mechanism’

The clarification from the minister came amid criticism from opposition leaders, who described the app as a potential tool for surveillance. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge condemned the preloading of the app on smartphones, calling it “yet another addition to the long list of attempts by the BJP to strangulate the voice of the people.” He questioned the government’s intentions, asking why it needed access to private communications between citizens and their family and friends.

Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Congress general secretary and MP, echoed similar concerns, stating, “There’s a very fine line between reporting fraud and seeing what every citizen of India is doing on their phone… There’s a need for cybersecurity, but that doesn’t mean it gives you an excuse to go into every citizen’s phone. I don’t think any citizen would be happy.”

The main point of contention revolves around clause 7(b) of a DoT directive issued on November 28. This clause instructs manufacturers to ensure that the app’s “functionalities are not disabled or restricted.” According to a DoT official, speaking on condition of anonymity, the clause was intended for phone manufacturers, ensuring that the app is not preloaded in a way that renders it unusable or hidden from users. “It simply means they shouldn’t later claim they installed it as required but that its features don’t work or aren’t visible to users,” the official clarified. The DoT is expected to issue a formal clarification on the matter soon.

Privacy Concerns and Expert Views

Despite the minister’s assurances, privacy rights activists and technology policy experts have raised concerns over potential risks associated with preloaded government apps. The Internet Freedom Foundation (IFF) has argued that clause 7(b), if implemented at the system level, could effectively turn every smartphone in India into a vessel for state-mandated software that users cannot fully control or remove.

IFF co-founder Apar Gupta warned that if Sanchar Saathi requires system-level or root-level access—similar to carrier or OEM system apps—it could compromise user autonomy and privacy. “After the Supreme Court’s judgment in KS Puttaswamy, the right to privacy includes decisional autonomy and control over personal data and devices. A non-removable, system-level government app is a continuous, always-on interference with that autonomy,” he said.

Technology policy experts also pointed to security and competition concerns. Meghna Bal, Director at the tech policy think tank Esya Centre, noted that vulnerabilities in such apps could put millions of users at risk. “The security of government apps has been questioned several times recently. Any flaw or exploit in Sanchar Saathi could have widespread consequences given the scale of its use,” she said.

Government Stance

The government maintains that the app’s primary purpose is to empower citizens against fraud, track lost or stolen phones, and maintain transparency in mobile connections linked to an individual’s identity. The minister highlighted that the app has already facilitated significant disconnections of fraudulent numbers, returned lost phones, and blocked millions of fraudulent devices, demonstrating tangible benefits for the public.

In conclusion, the Sanchar Saathi app remains voluntary, and users are free to delete it if they wish, according to Telecom Minister Scindia. However, ongoing debates over privacy, system-level access, and preloading practices indicate that the discussion around government-mandated digital tools will continue to be a focal point in India’s cybersecurity discourse.