Sanchar Saathi App
Context:
The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has ordered smartphone manufacturers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on all new devices sold from March 2026.
The move aims to safeguard citizens from non-genuine handsets and curb telecom fraud by verifying authenticity of IMEI’s used in the mobile devices.
About Sanchar Saathi:
Initially it was introduced as a portal in 2023. Its mobile app version was launched on 17th January 2025.
It is a citizen-centric of the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), which is aimed at empowering mobile subscribers.
Why Sanchar Saathi is needed?
Fake or changed International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers on mobile phones create serious security concerns.
When the same IMEI appears on different phones in different places, it becomes difficult to track these numbers and take action.
India has a large second-hand phone market, and sometimes stolen or blacklisted phones are sold again. This can unknowingly make buyers part of a crime and cause financial losses.
Sanchar Saathi app can help people check if an IMEI is blocked or blacklisted
Services it offers include:
It allows users to check if the IMEI of a device is genuine, preventing the use of stolen or blacklisted phones.
It enables users to remotely disable lost devices to prevent misuse.
It helps users identify SIM cards registered in their name and report unauthorized ones.
Users can report suspected fraud through an option called Chakshu.
Significance:
Curbing Cybercrime:
The app addresses security gaps like spoofed or tampered IMEIs, which are often used in cross-border digital frauds.
The DoT reported that the initiative helped recover 50,000 lost or stolen devices in October alone.