New Delhi – In a major relief to millions of mobile phone users, the Central government on Tuesday quietly withdrew its earlier directive that made it compulsory for phone companies to pre-install the “Sanchar Saathi” app (now called “Chakshu”) on every new smartphone sold in India.
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) had issued the order in October 2025, saying the app would help stop cyber fraud by linking every SIM card to messaging apps like WhatsApp, Telegram and Signal. But within weeks, lakhs of people, privacy experts, opposition leaders and even some ruling party MPs raised strong objections. They called it an attack on personal privacy and feared the government could spy on private chats.
On Tuesday evening, DoT issued a short two-page letter to all mobile makers and importers: “The requirement of pre-installation of Chakshu facility on handsets is hereby kept in abeyance with immediate effect.”
This means phone companies no longer have to load the app on new phones from the factory.
What was the original plan?
In simple words, the government wanted every new phone to come with the Sanchar Saathi (Chakshu) app already installed. The main features were:
- Every SIM card would be linked to the phone owner’s Aadhaar or other ID.
- Whenever you open WhatsApp or Telegram for the first time, the app would ask you to verify your SIM through Chakshu.
- If someone tries to use your lost or stolen phone with a new SIM, the system would block WhatsApp and other apps.
- Users could report fake calls, fraud messages or stolen phones directly through the app.
DoT said more than 1.5 crore fraud complaints were received in the last three years and this app would stop most of them.
Why did people get angry?
Within days of the order, social media was full of anger. Common worries were:
- “The government will know everything we chat on WhatsApp.”
- “Even if we delete the app, some part will still run in the background.”
- “Foreign companies like Apple and Samsung said they cannot force-install Indian government apps.”
- “What if the app gets hacked? All our data will be in danger.”
Senior journalist and privacy expert Nikhil Pahwa wrote on X (formerly Twitter): “This is digital surveillance by stealth. Forcing an app on every phone is like putting a camera inside every home.”
Even BJP’s own Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy questioned the move and asked, “Why force it when people can download it if they want?”
What forced the government to take a U-turn?
Sources inside DoT told this reporter that three big reasons made the government back off:
- Phone companies said they would miss Christmas and New Year sales if they had to change factory software suddenly.
- Apple sent a strong letter saying it will never pre-install any third-party app that asks for SIM binding – it goes against their privacy policy.
- More than 8 lakh emails reached the MyGov portal in just 15 days asking to cancel the order.
A senior DoT official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said: “We wanted safety, but the message went wrong. People thought we want to read their private chats. That was never the plan. So we decided to pause and rethink.”
What happens now?
- The app will NOT come pre-installed on any new phone.
- Sanchar Saathi portal will still work. You can visit the website and use all features – report fraud, block stolen phone, check how many SIMs are issued in your name, etc.
- Chakshu app is still available on Google Play Store and Apple App Store for anyone who wants to download it voluntarily.
- DoT says in the next few months they will bring a lighter version that does not need deep phone access.
Official Statements
Minister of Communications Shri Jyotiraditya Scindia said in Parliament on Tuesday: “Citizen trust is most important. We have heard the concerns. No feature will be forced on anyone. Safety from fraud is our aim, not control over private life.”
TRAI Chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti told reporters: “We are working on a system where fraud reporting becomes easy without touching privacy. Give us some time.”
Opposition leader Shashi Tharoor welcomed the decision: “This shows when people speak up unitedly, even the government has to listen. But we will watch carefully that no back-door method is used later.”
Will cyber fraud increase now?
DoT says no. The portal already helped block more than 72 lakh fake mobile connections and 9 lakh stolen handsets in the last two years. All those features remain active.
A senior police officer from Delhi Cyber Cell said: “People should still check once a year how many SIMs are running in their name. It takes only 2 minutes on the Sanchar Saathi website and can save you from big loan frauds.”
FAQ – Everything You Wanted to Ask
Q1. Is Sanchar Saathi app completely cancelled?
No. Only the forced pre-installation is cancelled. The website and optional app are still there.
Q2. Do I need to delete the app if it came with my phone?
Very few phones shipped with it because the order came very late. If you have it and don’t like it, simply uninstall – it is just like any other app.
Q3. Can the government still see my WhatsApp chats?
No. Chakshu never had permission to read your messages. End-to-end encryption of WhatsApp stays the same.
Q4. Is it safe to download Chakshu app now?
Yes, if you want extra protection. It only asks minimal permissions – phone number and IMEI – to help you report fraud fast.
Q5. What is the best way to stay safe from mobile fraud today?
- Visit https://sancharsaathi.gov.in once every 6 months → TAFCOP section → see how many SIMs are in your name.
- Never share OTP with anyone.
- Report fraud calls/SMS immediately on the website or 1930 helpline.
Q6. Will this rule come back in future?
DoT says they will only bring voluntary and lighter options. No forced pre-installation again.
Final Word
Today’s decision proves that in a democracy, public voice matters. The government wanted to make us safer from fraudsters, but the method scared people more than the fraudsters themselves. By withdrawing the order, the Centre has sent a strong message – safety is important, but privacy is non-negotiable.
Stay safe, stay private, and keep checking the Sanchar Saathi portal – it is still one of the best free tools we have against mobile fraud.