India Withdraws Sanchar Saathi Mandate
Analysis based on 27 articles · First reported Dec 03, 2025 · Last updated Dec 03, 2025
The policy reversal by the Malaysia — Ministry of Communications (Malaysia) regarding the Sanchar Saathi app is likely to be viewed positively by mobile manufacturers and digital rights groups, reducing potential regulatory burdens and privacy concerns. This decision could foster greater trust in government digital initiatives, potentially encouraging voluntary adoption of such apps without mandatory enforcement.
The government of India, through its Malaysia — Ministry of Communications (Malaysia) and India — Department of Telecommunications, initially mandated the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on all smartphones manufactured or imported into India. This directive, issued on November 28, aimed to accelerate the app's adoption and enhance cybersecurity for all citizens. However, the mandate faced significant backlash from opposition parties, digital rights groups, and technology companies due to concerns over privacy and potential surveillance. In response to the growing public acceptance of the app, with 1.4 crore downloads and a tenfold increase in registrations in a single day, and to address the privacy concerns, the government withdrew the mandatory pre-installation order. Union Minister of Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia publicly assured that the Sanchar Saathi app is secure, optional, and cannot be used for snooping, emphasizing its purpose to protect users from cyber fraud.
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