Ministry scraps order to pre-install Sanchar app

The communications ministry on Wednesday said it has dropped its directive requiring mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on every handset, citing a large spike in downloads after the initial order on November 28.

- Sejal Sharma

"Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers," the ministry said in a press release.

The move came hours after communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia told the Lok Sabha on Wednesday that the government was open to amending the directive if people flagged genuine issues.

The original directive, issued on November 28, required all phone makers to pre-install Sanchar Saathi on every new device sold in India. While the language suggested users could not remove or disable it, the government - as reported by HT - held from the outset that users could remove the application.