In a major step to protect consumers and strengthen telecom cybersecurity, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has directed all mobile handset manufacturers and importers to pre-install the official Sanchar Saathi mobile application on every device intended for sale or use in India.
Issued on 28 November 2025 under the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, the directive requires that the Sanchar Saathi app must be clearly visible, fully functional, and enabled by default when a user sets up a new phone for the first time. Manufacturers are prohibited from disabling or restricting any feature of the app.
For devices already manufactured and lying in sales channels across the country, companies have been asked to push the app through over-the-air (OTA) software updates as quickly as possible.
Companies must complete implementation within 90 days and submit a compliance report to DoT within 120 days.
The move is aimed at tackling the growing menace of counterfeit, stolen, and re-programmed mobile phones that use duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers. Such devices make it difficult for authorities to track and block fraudulent handsets and often turn innocent buyers into unwitting abettors of crime.
The Sanchar Saathi app (available on both Android and iOS) allows citizens to instantly verify the genuineness of any handset by checking its IMEI, report suspected fraudulent calls or messages, block lost/stolen phones, and see all mobile connections registered in their name.
With India’s large second-hand phone market, thousands of blocked or blacklisted devices continue to be resold every year, causing financial loss and legal complications for buyers. The mandatory pre-installation is expected to make IMEI verification a routine step for every new phone buyer.
Download Links
Android: https: //play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.dot.app.sancharsaathi
iOS: https://apps.apple.com/app/sanchar-saathi/id6739700695
