After constant outcries by private companies, opposition leaders, and policy advocates over surveillance and privacy issues, the government has finally scrapped the 28 November order regarding the pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi app in mobile phones from 2026.
The order given by the government was made to ensure that the Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed in all phones within 90 days. Later, the minister of Telecommunication confirmed that the app was optional as the users can choose to delete it, but as protests continued, the government decided to scrap the order completely.
A press statement was released by the communication ministry confirming that the pre-installation mandate has been struck off. Apart from the opposition parties, companies including Samsung and Apple were reported to have decided not to comply with the order. While in an earlier statement, officials defended the order, stating that the app was to strengthen digital security and prevent the theft of phones. But after backlash from all sides, the order itself has been taken off.
Last year, the government also took a U-turn regarding an order on Laptop licensing after protests by the US officials. Mishi Choudhary, a tech lawyer working on internet-related issues, said that the unpredictable policies of the Indian government are not good for the predictable needs of business. The government, after releasing the latest order, said that it has backtracked as the app saw a large number of downloads without the prerequisite.
The order regarding Sanchar Saathi is on similar lines as the authorities realised its potential to destroy trade and ease of doing business in the country.
