The central government has rolled back its controversial directive requiring smartphone makers to preload a non-removable version of the state-run cybersecurity app Sanchar Saathi on all new devices — a move that had triggered strong protests from Opposition parties, privacy advocates and global phone manufacturers, like Apple.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had, on November 28, privately told companies including Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi to ensure that all new handsets sold in India came with Sanchar Saathi preloaded and non-removable within 90 days. The instruction was positioned as part of India’s broader push against cyber fraud and phone theft.
But the directive immediately ran into controversy. Opposition MPs accused the government of introducing backdoor surveillance under the guise of cyber safety. Senior Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala submitted a notice in Parliament on Wednesday demanding that the Centre explain the legal basis for “mandating a non-removable app” and sought a wider debate on privacy and data security. He warned that compulsory installation could allow a hidden backdoor, seriously compromising users’ data.
Privacy campaigners and cyberlaw experts echoed similar concerns. Newspaper editorials questioned the move’s opacity, while civil society groups said the order violated principles of choice and consent under India’s new Digital Personal Data Protection Act.
Equally serious for the government was the brewing resistance from industry. According to people aware of the matter, Apple and Samsung — whose India manufacturing operations have grown sharply under the government’s production-linked incentive schemes — had indicated they would not comply with the request, citing concerns around device integrity, user rights and global policy alignments.
The directive also surprised handset makers because it required the app to be non-removable, contradicting international norms that discourage governments from embedding undeletable software on commercial devices. Industry sources said they were unaware of any large democracy mandating such an app by statute. Only Russia’s government-backed MAX messenger preload requirement offered a comparable example.
Despite ministers stoutly defending the order on Tuesday — arguing that Sanchar Saathi merely helps users block stolen phones and prevent misuse — the communications ministry reversed course on Wednesday.
“The government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers,” the ministry said in a late evening statement. It added that the app was “secure” and “meant solely to help citizens”, noting that more than 6,00,000 users had voluntarily downloaded it since Tuesday.
Officials also said that voluntary adoption proved the mandate was unnecessary — a justification that critics described as an attempt to defuse political and industry pressure.
The episode has revived a familiar debate around India’s policy environment for global tech companies. Last year, the government scrapped a sudden laptop-import licensing regime after pushback from US officials and the wider industry.
“India’s highly unpredictable regulatory framework presents constant challenges for business that values predictability,” Reuters quoted Mishi Choudhary, an internet policy lawyer, as commenting. While welcoming the rollback, she warned that arbitrary decisions without proper analysis “remain concerning”, particularly when aimed at curbing cyber fraud.
The reversal marks the second major policy climbdown by the Modi government in the tech sector in just over a year, underscoring growing concerns among companies about regulatory unpredictability in one of the world’s fastest-growing smartphone markets.
During the pandemic, the Centre made its Aarogya Setu contact-tracing app compulsory for office-goers, only to dilute the order later after legal and public pressure.
As India accelerates its digital governance push — from cybersecurity to online safety and device tracking — Wednesday’s reversal underscores the political, economic and constitutional tightropes New Delhi must navigate.
