Govt Clarifies Sanchar Saathi’s Role, Drops Mandatory Pre-Installation Rule

New Delhi: The Government on Wednesday clarified that the Sanchar Saathi mobile application is a secure, citizen-centric tool designed solely to protect users from cyber fraud and bad actors, even as it withdrew its earlier mandate requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the app.

Officials stated that the app aims to enhance “Jan Bhagidari” by enabling citizens to report cyber-fraud activities easily, while ensuring their own protection. The app, they emphasised, has no hidden functions, does not compromise user privacy, and can be uninstalled at any time.

According to the Government, 1.4 crore users have already downloaded Sanchar Saathi, contributing information on nearly 2,000 fraud incidents per day. The user base has surged significantly, with six lakh new registrations in a single day, marking a ten-fold rise in daily uptake, which authorities described as a strong public endorsement of the app’s utility.

The earlier decision to mandate pre-installation was intended to boost awareness among less tech-savvy users and expand the protective reach of the platform. However, acknowledging the app’s rapidly growing acceptance, the Government has now decided to withdraw the pre-installation requirement for mobile manufacturers.

Authorities reiterated that Sanchar Saathi remains a key tool in strengthening citizen safety in the digital ecosystem. (Agencies)