The Indian government has taken a historic step to further strengthen digital security and mobile security. The Ministry of Communications has strictly instructed leading smartphone companies like Apple, Samsung, Vivo, and Oppo to ensure that every new handset sold comes with the Sanchar Saathi app. This decision was taken to eradicate the growing cyber fraud and counterfeit SIM card trade.
Under this new rule, companies have been given a 90-day ultimatum. Importantly, this app cannot be removed or disabled from the phone. In this article, we will explore in detail why the Sanchar Saathi app is essential for you and how it will protect your personal information.
What is the Sanchar Saathi App
The Sanchar Saathi app is the mobile version of the Indian government’s portal of the same name, launched in May 2023. The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has made it available on both Android and iOS platforms to help the public protect themselves from threats like mobile theft and fake SIM connections.
If your phone is lost or stolen, this app allows you to instantly block it on any telecom network in the country. Once blocked, the location of the handset will be directly transmitted to law enforcement agencies as soon as it is used. This feature is enough to instill fear in criminals.
Chakshu Feature
The most powerful feature of this app is Chakshu. Nowadays, we’re all troubled by calls and messages about fake lotteries, KYC updates, or even those posing as bank officials. With the Chakshu feature, you can immediately report any suspicious call, spam SMS, or WhatsApp message. Your single report becomes part of a larger action against cybercrime, making it easier to track and disable fake numbers.
IMEI and mobile connections will now be controlled
People often don’t know how many SIM cards are running in their name. Criminals often obtain fake SIM cards by misusing other people’s documents. The Sanchar Saathi app, through its TAFCOP feature, gives you the magical power to see how many mobile numbers are active in your name. If an unknown number is active on your ID, you can request to deactivate it from within the app.
In addition, the Know Your Mobile (KYM) feature helps identify cloned or duplicate smartphones. It verifies the authenticity of your phone’s IMEI number. Incorrect or fake IMEI numbers often lead to major scams and network abuse, and to prevent this, this app will now be mandatory on every phone.
Why the Government Made It Mandatory
According to media reports, the government’s goal is to mandate counterfeit phones, cloned devices, and cyber fraud. Companies have been instructed to integrate this app in a way that users cannot delete it. It will be added to devices already on sale through a software update.
Statistically, its success is astonishing. So far, more than 5 million people have downloaded this app. According to government data, Sanchar Sathi has helped block over 3.7 million stolen mobile phones and disconnected nearly 30 million fraudulent mobile connections. The government believes that the presence of this app in every new phone will significantly reduce mobile fraud in the future.