What is Sanchar Saathi, the app that government wants Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi and others to preload on smartphones

The government has mandated that all smartphones sold in the country must come pre-installed with Sanchar Saathi, a cybersecurity application. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) issued the directive on November 28, 2025, under the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules, marking the first time India has required state-backed software on all mobile devices. The move affects one of the world’s largest smartphone markets, with over 1.2 billion mobile users.

What is Sanchar Saathi app