DoT Mandates Sanchar Saathi App on New Phones from March 2026
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has ordered all smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices sold from March 2026. The directive also mandates that the app’s core functionalities cannot be disabled or restricted by users or manufacturers.
Key Takeaways
- Mandatory Pre-installation: All new smartphones must come with the Sanchar Saathi app from March 2026.
- IMEI Verification: The app’s primary function is to verify the authenticity of a device’s IMEI number.
- Security Push: This is part of a broader DoT crackdown on telecom fraud, including recent orders for SIM binding on messaging apps.
Purpose and Function of Sanchar Saathi
According to the DoT, the move aims to protect citizens from buying counterfeit handsets and make it easier to report suspected telecom resource misuse. The Sanchar Saathi platform, launched as a portal in 2023, already allows users to report scam calls, identify SIMs registered in their name, and remotely block stolen phones.
The official order states the app will be used to “verify authenticity of IMEIs used in mobile devices.” However, it remains unclear if the pre-installed app will automatically access the device’s IMEI or require manual user input.
Part of a Broader Security Crackdown
This is the third major directive from the DoT following the amended Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024. It comes close on the heels of two other significant orders:
- SIM Binding for Messaging Apps: Platforms like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram must restrict accounts to devices with the original registered SIM card and log users out of web interfaces every six hours.
- Fraud Integration for Social Media: Social media platforms have been ordered to integrate the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) and a Mobile Number Revocation List (MNRL) to immediately deactivate accounts linked to fraudulent numbers.
“DoT’s SIM-binding directions are essential to plug a concrete security gap that cybercriminals are exploiting to run large-scale, often cross-border, digital frauds,” the DoT said. “Accounts on instant messaging and calling apps continue to work even after the associated SIM is removed, deactivated or moved abroad, enabling anonymous scams, remote ‘digital arrest’ frauds and government-impersonation calls using Indian numbers.”
An industry source indicated Monday’s order, like Friday’s, was issued without prior consultation.
Potential Challenges from Manufacturers
Smartphone makers have historically resisted government mandates for pre-installed apps. A notable example is Apple’s resistance to TRAI’s spam-reporting app in 2017 due to its permissions for SMS and call log access. Apple later developed a limited-functionality “extension” within iMessage as a compromise.
Track Record and Impact
The Sanchar Saathi initiative has shown tangible results. The DoT reported last month that the portal helped recover 50,000 stolen or lost devices in October alone, highlighting its utility in device tracking and recovery.
