A new dispute may be forming between Apple and the Government of India after a recent order involving the Sanchar Saathi app. This app, created by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), helps people block lost or stolen phones, verify second-hand devices using IMEI, check all mobile connections in their name, and report fraud calls or messages.
The controversy began when the DoT issued a circular on November 28, 2025. It said that every smartphone sold in India must come with the Sanchar Saathi app pre-installed. It also said that the app must be visible during the first setup of the device and that its features must not be disabled, modified, or deleted. Phone makers were also told to add the app to unsold units already present in the supply chain through software updates.
However, soon after the circular came out, Telecom Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia stated publicly that the app was not mandatory and that users would be able to uninstall it. This statement directly conflicted with the written order, and the DoT has not yet released an updated circular. This has left companies unclear whether the app must be pre-installed or whether it will remain optional.
For Android brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi, Oppo, Vivo, and OnePlus, adding another government app may not be unusual. But for Apple, the situation is different. iPhones do not ship with any third-party or government apps. Apple’s tightly controlled system does not allow outside apps to be added in ways that cannot be removed or restricted, making the order a direct challenge to its long-standing policies.
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Apple’s Privacy Model Collides with New Demands
The Sanchar Saathi app needs certain permissions to work properly. It supports fraud reporting, IMEI checks, and mobile connection verification—features that require deeper system-level access on a device. On Android devices, this is possible. But Apple’s iOS sandbox architecture does not allow apps to access sensitive areas like call details, message information, and certain device identifiers without strict limits. This is part of Apple’s promise that personal data stays private.
Apple has faced a similar issue in India before. In 2016, the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) pushed Apple to allow its Do Not Disturb (DND) spam-reporting app on iPhones. The app needed access to call and SMS logs, and Apple refused for almost two years, saying such access would break user privacy rules. The matter ended only after Apple added a new feature inside iOS 12, allowing users to report spam without giving the app full access to their call history. This compromise allowed the DND app to work without breaking Apple’s privacy standards.
The latest directive comes at a time when Apple has become a major part of India’s electronics industry. In FY25, Apple assembled nearly $22 billion worth of iPhones in India. It also contributed more than $10 billion in device exports and is expanding its retail footprint, including a new flagship store in Noida. This makes the situation more sensitive for both sides.
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Reports, including one from Reuters, suggest that Apple is unlikely to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app. Instead, the company may discuss the issue with the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY). Apple is expected to argue that giving an app such deep access may create security risks. It may also propose integrating the app’s features directly into iOS settings, similar to the earlier agreement made during the DND dispute. Apple did not comment on these developments when contacted by India Today Tech, as mentioned in the original content.
Industry Uncertainty and the Road Ahead
The conflict has created uncertainty for all phone makers because the DoT’s circular and the minister’s clarification do not match. The circular still states the app must be pre-installed and cannot be removed, while the verbal clarification says the opposite. Until an updated order is issued, companies remain unsure about the final requirement.
The situation affects the entire smartphone market, and companies are watching closely for a revised directive. The Sanchar Saathi rollout and Apple’s strict privacy structure now sit at the center of an important policy moment for India’s mobile industry.