India’s order asks smartphone makers to preload the state-run Sanchar Saathi app on all devices, including iPhones. This sets the stage for a fresh clash with Apple. This clash is focused on privacy, security, and control of user data. The government promotes the app as a cyber-safety tool against fraud and stolen phones. Apple is expected to resist any move that forces a non-removable state app into its tightly controlled ecosystem.
Govt order on Sanchar Saathi
Under a November 28 directive, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has issued this via the Telecommunication Cybersecurity Amendment Rules 2025. The DoT has asked smartphone makers to ship all new phones with Sanchar Saathi pre-installed. They also need to push it via software updates to unsold inventory and existing stock. The circular initially specified that users should not disable, modify, or delete the app’s core functions. This effectively turns it into a mandatory system-level tool.
Also read: Apple Boosts iPhone Production in India Amid China Shift
Mandatory or optional? Mixed signals
The mandate sparked immediate criticism. Digital rights groups and privacy advocates issued warnings. They said that making a government app undeletable converts every smartphone into a tool for state-imposed software. In response, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia later said Sanchar Saathi would be “optional.” Users would be able to delete it. However, DoT has not yet issued a revised order. This leaves manufacturers uncertain about their exact obligations.
Why Apple is pushing back
Apple ships iPhones without third-party “bloatware.” Allowing a mandatory government app with elevated permissions risks setting a precedent. Other countries could demand this as well. Reports suggest Apple has informed officials of its plan not to comply with the order in its current form. Instead, it will engage with the IT and telecom ministries. Apple aims to argue that a preloaded, non-removable app poses security and privacy risks.
What Sanchar Saathi actually does
Sanchar Saathi is a citizen-centric cyber-safety platform. It lets users block lost or stolen phones. Users can verify IMEI details and view all SIMs issued in their name. They can also report suspected fraud. To offer these features, the Android version requests access to phone, SMS, location, camera, and storage. Critics say these permissions, without strong safeguards and deletion rights, raise the risk of over-collection and long-term tracking.
Echoes of the TRAI DND app fight
This stand-off mirrors the earlier spat over TRAI’s “Do Not Disturb” anti-spam app. Apple resisted granting access to call and SMS logs on privacy grounds. That dispute concluded with Apple introducing a special spam-reporting framework in iOS 12. This framework allows users to report spam without granting any app unrestricted access to their call history. This is a template many expect Apple to propose again for Sanchar Saathi.
High stakes for Apple and India
The battle comes at a time when Apple has become central to India’s electronics manufacturing story. Apple is assembling tens of billions of dollars’ worth of iPhones locally. It is driving a major share of the country’s smartphone exports. India needs Apple’s investment for “Make in India.” Meanwhile, Apple needs India as a production and growth base amid global tariff risks. Both sides are likely to seek a compromise. This may involve integrating Sanchar Saathi-like features inside iOS settings. These would not appear as a permanent app icon on the iPhone home screen.
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