Why Are People Worried About Sanchar Saathi?:-
Does the Modi government really want to look inside your mobile phone? Does the government want to know who you talk to under the pretext of getting you to install the Sanchar Saathi app? Who do you chat with? What do you chat about? Who calls your phone ? Which OTP comes? Who do you talk to at midnight? What is that photo that you have hidden in your mobile? By getting the Sanchar Saathi app pre- installed in the phone, does the government want to access your camera, microphone, files, location or what the government is saying is a security tool or what the opposition is saying is that now Modi ji’s team is going to install a government watchman in your phone. The public is confused whether to listen to the government and believe that this is a big step towards stopping cyber fraud or a slow beginning of keeping an eye on the lives of 140 crore people in a new era because the government is saying that we are not taking anything from you in this phone.
What Exactly Is Sanchar Saathi?:-
The opposition is saying that it will be taken tomorrow, while the government is saying that you can remove the app. The opposition is saying then why are you forcing it? The question is whether having a communication partner in your phone is like handing over the door of your privacy to the government or is the opposition exaggerating it. The question is that there are already many apps in your mobile phone, those apps to which you have given many permissions after installing them. Then why are you and I so worried about the Sanchar Saathi app ? Today the common people have many questions and fear has taken root in their minds and today we will answer all these questions one by one.
Government’s Counter-Argument: “Cybercrime Is Exploding”:-
It was launched in May 2030 when its web portal was launched. After this, its mobile app was launched on 17 January 2025. The government claims that it will help in preventing cyber fraud , mobile theft, challenges like fake IMEI or fake SIM cards happening in the country and till now about 125 million people have installed it. This is the government’s claim. The government also claims that through this, 42 lakh stolen and lost mobile phones have been blocked. 26 lakh phones have been searched. And this app is connected to a central database called CEIR. Where all the IMEI numbers of the country are recorded. This means that if your phone is stolen, it can be tracked wherever it is switched on. You can report lost mobile through this app. You can check IMEI. You can check if the phone is real or fake. You can check how many IDs are on your number and report suspicious calls and messages. This is its convenience. Now the question is that when it has so many features then where did the fuss happen? So the uproar happened when on December 1, 2025, the government announced that from today onwards, this app will be pre-installed in all the new smartphones. Any company will have to implement it within 90 days and this is where the controversy started because the government was not giving any suggestions. The government was ordering an app to be pre-installed in every new smartphone. And when the government gives orders, the question is not just about the app. The question becomes one of trust. The question becomes one of intent, not technique, and that is what happened with the communication partner. Sanchar Saathi was a simple app. Android OS was launched on both on January 17, 2025.
Technical Permissions: What Does the App Actually Access?:-
But as soon as the government said that it is compulsory to install it in every phone. The dispute started from there. The opposition alleged that this is like appointing a government watchman. The government was calling it a security shield and the common man was worried as to what was happening? Whom to trust ? The opposition has made such a serious allegation. The opposition is saying that brother, this is a Pegas type monitoring account. It has become like Bigg Boss. Your every move will be monitored and the government will gradually gather all the information about you. Your freedom will be lost. This is the beginning of monitoring by the BJP government. These were the claims of the opposition. The government also had an argument on this. The government’s argument was that cyber crime in India has increased explosively. In 2024, 22.68 lakh cyber frauds were registered in the country. About 10 lakh fake SIMs were caught. 2.63 lakh fake IMEIs were received. 4 lakh smartphones were stolen in Delhi alone.
How Is Sanchar Saathi Different from WhatsApp, Instagram, Truecaller?:-
Every year 50 lakh phones are stolen and lost. The government will say it is necessary. The second argument was that the government was initially motivating people to download the app. People were not downloading themselves. So the lost and stolen system was not working. That’s why we are saying that you should install it yourself and give it to us. Jyotiraditya Scindia said that if you want, you can remove it later. There is no compulsion. But the whole fear started from here that when the government gets the power to put an app in every phone. Today one app, tomorrow another app, today only access to IMEI, tomorrow chat, camera. Then doubts start to arise in the mind of the people and this is where the opposition and the experts are angry. The opposition claims that this app infringes on the privacy of citizens. The government wants to increase surveillance. Priyanka Gandhi called it a spying app. KC Venugopal gave the example of Pegas. Said he was moving in that direction. Priyanka Chaturvedi is somewhere under Big Boss type surveillance. CPI(M) people said that this app cannot be removed and there will be a surveillance system in crores of phones. Digital policy experts were saying that the government is watching the reaction, if there is less reaction today then one app will be another tomorrow. Getting one installed today will make the journey easier. That is why he is saying that it is important to fight this battle to prepare for tomorrow. Now the question of the common man was that brother, can anyone spy on your phone? Now if we look at the technical details, this app asks for permission to read and send SMS, call lock, call state and phone management.
Concerns About Removal: Is It Really Optional?:-
Government experts say that no one asks for camera, microphone, files, gallery, location. But critics say that brother, this is a matter of today. What will happen tomorrow? Anyway, the government has Aadhar and PAN card. There is government information. Now if digital also goes away then the whole matter will go wrong. Then a question arises that the supporters of the government say you are installing other apps also. You see Facebook is taking all the permissions. Insta is taking permission. WhatsApp is taking over. Then yes it is true that WhatsApp, Truecaller, Instagram take a lot of permissions. But there is a difference between a communication partner and these. One question that is coming to the minds of many people regarding the Sanchar Sathi app is what is the difference between Sanchar Sathi and other apps? Because we give a lot of permissions on WhatsApp, Truecaller, Instagram, Facebook also.
Then the government’s app Sanchar Saathi which is claiming that if your phone is stolen, it will be caught, if it has a fake SIM, it will be caught, if it has a fake SIM, it will be caught. And the government is telling many more benefits. So what is the difference between these two? Permission is available at both places. There are two big differences. First difference. The rest of the apps you install are your own choice. It’s your choice. Private companies steal data. True, but she uses your data commercially.
Should You Install the App?:-
But the government already has your Aadhaar, banking, tax, health, identity and social profile data. If mobile connectivity is also added to this, then in future the government may have a 360° view of the entire digital identity of a citizen. There is less choice in communication companion as it will come with the phone. The government is currently saying that we are not taking any private information about you. But regarding this, experts are expressing fear that there is no guarantee about the future. Secondly, your data goes to the government which already has access to every digital record like Aadhar, PAN, banking etc. This means your digital identity is already visible. If you add the phone, the entire profile can be prepared. Privacy experts consider this the beginning of digital profiling. Second is that it is a government app. That is why experts are also scared. The opposition is raising questions. However, the government is saying that you can uninstall this app. Can be removed. But critics say it can be removed today. The option to remove it was closed in the update yesterday. Then Apple also argued that we cannot install it because it may question our commitment to privacy. Many government or company pre-installed apps are not removed even before. They are disabled. The fear is that it will again come under government control.
The Larger Question: Trust vs. Fear:-
Now the question is can smartphone companies refuse to install the communication companion app ? Yes, we gave the example of Apple. Apple refuses to preinstall. Said that we do not install third party apps in the phone under compulsion. Earlier also Apple had visited the DND app of the Government of India. Apple cites the Data Protection Act and goes to court over this. Samsung and other companies can also oppose this. Now the question in your mind would be what should you do in the meantime ? Should I download it or not ? Look, it depends on your privacy confidence. If you want to do IMEI check, find lost phone, check fake SIM, then this app is helpful for you. But if you are a privacy focused user then do not install it or keep it removed. If your new phone comes with it and you don’t want it, you can install it. Overall, there is a little fear. There is fear because the government’s move is big. The security argument is strong. But the threat of surveillance is equally great. Sanchar Saathi is really a useful app. But there could also be a potential danger. The difference is in what you believe. On the intentions of the government or on the warnings of the opposition. Yes, it is true that technology is never just technology. She is always a weapon in the hands of some power. Either a weapon to save people or to control them. Now the most important thing in this entire controversy is your privacy, your freedom and your rights.