Following opposition from Apple and Google, the Indian government has withdrawn its mandate for smartphone manufacturers to pre-install state-run security apps.

The Indian government has rescinded its order to smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the state-run cybersecurity app 'Sanchar Saathi' after facing backlash from major smartphone manufacturers such as Apple.

India revokes order to preload smartphones with state-owned security app | India | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/03/india-revokes-order-pre-load-smartphones-state-owned-security-app-sanchar-saathi-

After Apple refusal, India makes U-turn on mandatory iPhone app
https://9to5mac.com/2025/12/03/after-apple-refusal-indian-government-completes-u-turn-on-mandatory-iphone-app/

It has been revealed that India's Ministry of Telecommunications is secretly asking smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the state-run cybersecurity app 'Sanchar Saathi.' India has a huge second-hand mobile device market, and there have been cases of stolen devices being resold. Sanchar Saathi is an app designed to prevent this, and it claims to track stolen smartphones, block them, and prevent them from being misused.

It turns out that the Indian government secretly ordered smartphone manufacturers such as Apple to pre-install government security apps - GIGAZINE

However, political opponents of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and privacy advocates have criticized Sanchar Saathi, saying it is a way for the government to gain access to 730 million smartphones in India and violates people's privacy.

It has also been reported that Apple has no intention of pre-installing Sanchar Saathi on iPhones and plans to inform the Indian government of this. In addition to Apple, technology companies such as Google have also indicated that they will not comply with the order.

Apple denies Indian government's order to pre-install state-run apps - GIGAZINE

Following widespread criticism of the Sanchar Saathi pre-installation mandate, the Indian government issued a statement on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, saying, 'We have decided not to require mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install apps.'

The Indian government has emphasized that Sanchar Saathi is a safe app, saying, 'It is designed solely to protect the public from malicious actors.'