India walks back mandatory govt phone app after backlash

India’s government amended on Wednesday an order that required phone makers to pre-install a government-run cyber security app, after it sparked uproar over privacy concerns.

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Sanchar Saathi app logo and Indian flag appear in this illustration taken December 2, 2025.

(REUTERS)

Earlier this week, authorities had given manufacturers and importers 90 days to comply with the now-reversed rule.

But a government statement on Wednesday announced the decision "not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers".

It added that the app "Sanchar Saathi" — meaning communication partner in Hindi — was "secure and purely meant to help citizens" against "bad actors".

The initial order gave rise to widespread concerns that the app might be used for surveillance, and that it could not be removed.