On December 3, 2025, the Ministry of Communications reversed its decision to require all smartphone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app. The original order, issued on December 1 by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), aimed to combat threats from phones with fake IMEI numbers by mandating the cybersecurity app from March 2026 onward. However, the move met strong criticism from digital rights groups and opposition parties over privacy and surveillance worries. The government said it changed course because the app saw a huge jump in user numbers. After the announcement, Sanchar Saathi gained 6 lakh new registrations in just one day, making a tenfold increase. Currently, the app has 1.4 crore users who report around 2,000 fraud incidents every day. In a press release, officials stated, "Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, Government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers." They also stressed the app is "secure and purely meant to help citizens from bad actors in the cyber world." Users can uninstall the app at any time. This step ends the controversy sparked by fears of government spying and loss of user freedom. The government maintains it is committed to protecting users without forcing apps on them.