{"id":76148,"date":"2025-12-03T11:13:40","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T05:43:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=76148"},"modified":"2025-12-03T11:17:36","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T05:47:36","slug":"sanchar-saathi-app-features-mandate-privacy-issues-govt-rules-explained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/sanchar-saathi-app-features-mandate-privacy-issues-govt-rules-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Sanchar Saathi App: Features, Mandate, Privacy Issues &#038; Govt Rules Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Sanchar Saathi Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Centre has directed smartphone manufacturers to <\/span><b>preinstall<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> the government-developed <\/span><b>Sanchar Saathi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> app on all new devices and push it via software updates to existing phones.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The app allows users to report fraudulent calls, scam messages, and stolen mobile phones. Importantly, the government has asked that the app cannot be deleted by users.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Earlier, the DoT told companies that the app must be non-deletable, non-restrictable, and non-disableable, raising concerns about privacy and forced compliance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later, the Telecom Minister clarified that Sanchar Saathi is not mandatory and users may delete it if they wish.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>About Sanchar Saathi<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sanchar Saathi is an optional mobile app and website developed by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It aims to <\/span><b>empower <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mobile users, enhance security, and raise awareness about government initiatives.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The platform provides multiple citizen-focused services, along with updates and educational material on telecom, cybersecurity, and end-user protection.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Key Services Offered by Sanchar Saathi<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sanchar Saathi provides a range of tools to strengthen user security, prevent fraud, and help track stolen devices.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Chakshu: Reporting Suspected Fraud Communication<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chakshu allows users to report suspicious calls, SMS, WhatsApp messages, or other communications linked to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Impersonation of DoT, TRAI, police, or government officials<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Investment or trading scams<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fake KYC or payment-related messages from banks, utilities, or insurance<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Malicious links, phishing attempts, unverified APKs, and device-cloning attempts<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chakshu <\/span><b>cannot<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> be used to file cybercrime complaints.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Users may also report spam or Unsolicited Commercial Communication (UCC), which is addressed under The Telecom Commercial Communication Customer Preference Regulation (TCCCPR), 2018<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">regulations of TRAI.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Block and Track Lost or Stolen Mobile Phones<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sanchar Saathi enables users to:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Block a lost or stolen mobile device<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trace the device when someone tries to use it<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unblock it after recovery<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The service uses the phone\u2019s IMEI number, a unique 15-digit identifier stored by mobile networks.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Mandatory Phone-Number Registration<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Registration using a mobile number is compulsory for using the app\u2019s features.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The app states this is required to \u201cidentify the mobile number\u201d linked to its services.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Android phones, the app automatically detects the active phone number and sends a registration SMS to DoT without explicit user consent.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This has raised major privacy concerns.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>What Permissions Sanchar Saathi Seeks on Android<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Send SMS<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Enables the app to send the automatic registration SMS to DoT.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Call and SMS Logs<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Allows reporting suspicious calls or messages through the app.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Photos and Files<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Needed to upload screenshots of scam calls\/SMS or documentation for lost\/stolen phone reporting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Camera Access<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> &#8211; Used to scan a phone\u2019s IMEI barcode to verify device authenticity.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Legal Basis for Mandating Sanchar Saathi<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The government\u2019s directive relies on expanded powers under the <\/span><b>Telecommunications Act, 2023<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the amended <\/span><b>Telecom Cyber Security (TCS) Rules, 2024<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">TCS rules were amended in 2025.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While DoT had earlier assured that its mandate would remain limited to telecom operators, the November 2025 amendment broadened the scope significantly.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Expanded Definition: Who Falls Under DoT\u2019s Authority Now<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The amendment introduced the term <\/span><b>Telecommunication Identifier User Entity (TIUE)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2014 covering any entity that uses a phone number to identify users.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This includes:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smartphone manufacturers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Messaging platforms like WhatsApp<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apps requiring phone-number verification<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under this broadened definition, DoT:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mandated WhatsApp and other platforms to auto-log-out web sessions every six hours<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Required WhatsApp accounts to stop working if used on devices without the registered SIM<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sanchar Saathi pre-installation mandate arises from this expanded rule set.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Constitutional Concerns and Right to Privacy<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts warn that forced installation and a ban on uninstalling the app may face constitutional scrutiny.<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smartphone makers warn that complying with the mandate may require deep OS-level changes, potentially weakening device security.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Concerns are amplified because:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sanchar Saathi is government-backed, and state agencies receive broad exemptions under India&#8217;s <\/span><b>Data Protection Act<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Critics fear this could give the Centre greater control over digital ecosystems and expand state surveillance capabilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Experts noted:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Puttaswamy judgment<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> protects the right to privacy.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State-mandated apps must meet tests of <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">legality, necessity, proportionality, and least intrusive means<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aadhaar survived scrutiny partly because it was categorised as <\/span><b>voluntary<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at the time.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By making Sanchar Saathi pre-installed and uninstallable, the mandate shifts from a voluntary security tool to compelled compliance, raising privacy concerns.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-sci-tech\/govt-smartphone-preinstall-sanchar-saathi-what-is-it-10396227\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/technology\/what-is-the-sanchar-saathi-app-why-is-the-government-mandating-its-pre-installation\/article70350322.ece#:~:text=Sanchar%20Saathi%20was%20launched%20in,could%20report%20suspicious%20phone%20calls.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">TH<\/a> | <a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-sci-tech\/telecom-scindia-sanchar-saathi-optional-key-concerns-10397728\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sanchar Saathi, the govt\u2019s anti-fraud app, may soon be preinstalled on all phones. Learn its features, permissions, legal basis, and key privacy concerns.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":76157,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,3991,22,59],"class_list":{"0":"post-76148","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","8":"tag-mains-articles","9":"tag-sanchar-saathi","10":"tag-upsc-current-affairs","11":"tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","12":"no-featured-image-padding"},"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=76148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/76148\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/76157"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=76148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=76148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=76148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}