Sanchar Saathi App Controversy
A major row has erupted over the government’s directive to mandatorily pre-load the ‘Sanchar Saathi’ app on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India, triggering widespread concerns about privacy and potential surveillance.
While the Centre insists the move is a step toward strengthening digital security, opposition parties have slammed it as “intrusive,” “unconstitutional,” and akin to installing a “tracking tool” on every citizen’s device.
What Does Sanchar Saathi App Do?
The Sanchar Saathi app, developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), enables users to verify device authenticity, block stolen phones, report fraud calls or scam messages, and view all mobile numbers registered under their identity. The government argues that the app has played a crucial role in combating International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) cloning and identifying fake mobile connections.
However, the controversy stems from the app’s extensive permissions, which include access to call logs, SMS details, file storage, and camera usage.
Calling it a “snooping app” and terming the move “unconstitutional”, opposition argues that forcing such an app onto users’ devices especially one that seeks sensitive data raises serious questions about privacy and state surveillance.
Some even compared it with Pegasus spyware.
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal took to X and wrote, ” Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT Direction is beyond unconstitutional. The Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and liberty, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution. A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a dystopian tool to monitor every Indian. It is a means to watch over every movement, interaction and decision of each citizen. This is part of the long series of relentless assaults on the Constitutional Rights of Indian citizens and will not be allowed to continue. We reject this Direction and demand an immediate rollback.”
Slamming the Centre for “turning this country into a dictatorship”, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi said, “It is a snooping app. It’s ridiculous. Citizens have the right to privacy. Everyone must have the right to privacy to send messages to family, friends, without the government looking at everything… They are turning this country into a dictatorship in every form. The parliament is not functioning because the government is refusing to talk about anything. It’s very easy to blame the Opposition. They are not allowing any discussion on anything… A healthy democracy demands discussion… There’s a very fine line between reporting fraud and seeing what every citizen of India is doing on their phone. That’s not how it should work. There should be an effective system to report fraud. We’ve discussed this at great length on cybersecurity. There’s a need for cybersecurity, but that doesn’t mean that it gives you an excuse to go into every citizen’s telephone. I don’t think any citizen would be happy…”
Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said, “They brought in Pegasus and have been unable to keep it under control. MPs and MLAs all say that their phones are being tapped. For the last 11 years, basic rights of the Indians have been taken away… This is the real violation of National Security…”
These accusations have amplified public anxiety, especially amid rising concerns over digital privacy and data protection.
As Sanchar Saathi App Is Pre-Loaded in Phones, Can Users Delete It?
In response to the mounting criticism, Union Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said that the application does not enable snooping or call monitoring.
He siad, “It is our responsibility to make this app reach everyone. If you want to delete it, then delete it. If you don’t want to use it, then don’t register it. If you register it, then it will remain active. If you don’t register it, then it will remain inactive.”
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