Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday clarified that the Sanchar Saathi app is entirely voluntary and not a mandatory requirement for mobile users. He stressed that citizens may activate the app at their convenience and are free to deactivate or delete it at any time.
Reaffirming the gvernment’s commitment to user privacy, Scindia said Sanchar Saathi is designed as a citizen-first safety platform. He noted that the app and its accompanying portal offer simple and transparent tools that enable users to secure their mobile identities. “Sanchar Saathi is a step towards Jan Bhagidari, where people themselves play an active role in strengthening their digital safety,” he said.
According to the Ministry, the platform has recorded significant impact since its rollout, including over 21.5 crore visits to the portal and more than 1.4 crore app downloads. Citizens have used its features to disconnect 1.43 crore mobile connections marked as “Not My Number,” while 26 lakh lost or stolen phones have been traced, with more than 7.2 lakh returned to their owners. Over 40.9 lakh fraudulent connections have been disconnected, 6.2 lakh fraud-linked IMEIs blocked, and potential financial losses of around ₹475 crore have been prevented through the Financial Fraud Risk Indicator.
The Minister added that Sanchar Saathi empowers users to report suspicious calls directly from their call logs, helping prevent fraud and enabling informed citizens to protect vulnerable users.
“Digital security for every citizen is our top priority,” Scindia said, reiterating that the app is voluntary, transparent and focused solely on safeguarding mobile users without compromising privacy.