The Central Government of India has instructed all smartphone manufacturers to preinstall the telecom safety and cyber-fraud prevention application Sanchar Saathi on all new mobile devices sold in the country.
The directive has been issued by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which functions under the Ministry of Communications.

As per the order, the app must be included in upcoming smartphone shipments and should remain available to users after activation.
For devices that are already in the market, manufacturers may deliver the app through future software updates.

Sanchar Saathi is part of the government’s digital initiative to help citizens report suspicious calls, messages, and online telecom fraud.
The platform also offers IMEI-based phone tracking, blocking of stolen or lost devices, detection of fake or duplicate mobile connections, and tools to curb spam communication across mobile networks.

Officials from the Ministry state that the move is aimed at strengthening national cyber safety, reducing telecom misuse, and enabling faster fraud reporting and device protection for users.
The initiative is expected to create a more secure mobile environment for citizens and telecom operators.

Some industry observers have noted that mandatory preinstalled government apps may raise questions around user preference and app management policies on smartphones.
However, DoT maintains that the application is focused primarily on public safety and fraud control in the telecom ecosystem.

The government further encourages users to explore the app’s features for reporting spam, securing devices, and verifying mobile connections to stay protected from digital fraud.