The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has ordered all smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices sold in India starting March 2026. The DoT also directed that the app's features "are not disabled or restricted." The Sanchar Saathi app will be used to “verify authenticity of IMEIs used in mobile devices,” according to the official order seen by The Hindu. The DoT said this step will “safeguard the citizens from buying non-genuine handsets, enable easy reporting of suspected misuse of telecom resources and increase effectiveness of the Sanchar Saathi initiative.” Originally launched as a portal in 2023, the app also helps users report scam calls, identify SIMs registered in their name, and remotely disable stolen phones. This latest order comes as part of the Telecom Cyber Security Rules, 2024, which introduced stronger security on telecom services. Recently, the government ordered messaging apps like WhatsApp, Signal, and Telegram to restrict usage to devices with the original SIM card (“SIM binding”) and to log users out of web versions every six hours. On December 1, 2025, the DoT added the Sanchar Saathi mandate, even though some manufacturers reportedly had no prior consultation on this move. The order follows another directive to social media platforms to use a Financial Fraud Risk Indicator (FRI) and deactivate accounts linked to fraud. According to the DoT, "SIM-binding is essential to plug a concrete security gap exploited by cybercriminals for digital frauds," since messaging accounts remain active even after SIM removal or moving SIMs abroad. Some smartphone makers have resisted pre-installed apps before. For example, Apple opposed TRAI’s draft to install a spam-reporting app due to privacy concerns but provided an alternative solution within iMessage. The Sanchar Saathi portal has helped recover 50,000 stolen or lost devices monthly as of October 2025, showing its growing impact in fighting telecom fraud.