The North News
New Delhi, December 2
Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia has moved to clarify concerns around the Sanchar Saathi mobile application, saying the platform is “fully democratic, entirely voluntary and designed to safeguard users, not monitor them”. Speaking in New Delhi, Scindia said users are free to activate the app whenever they choose and can delete or deactivate it at any time. He stressed that the government’s “first responsibility is to protect consumers”, describing Sanchar Saathi as a citizen-centric tool aimed at improving digital security.
The app, which functions alongside a web portal, allows users to secure their mobile connections, report suspicious numbers and block fraud-linked devices. Scindia called it “a major step towards Jan Bhagidari”, enabling citizens to play an active role in securing India’s digital environment. The government data shows the platform has seen strong uptake since launch, with more than 21.5 crore portal visits and 1.4 crore app downloads. Officials say citizens have used the service to disconnect 1.43 crore mobile connections flagged as “not my number”, while 26 lakh lost or stolen handsets have been traced. Of these, more than 7.23 lakh have been returned to their owners.
The officials have also blocked nearly 41 lakh fraudulent connections and 6.2 lakh IMEIs linked to fraud attempts. The Financial Fraud Risk Indicator, a feature within Sanchar Saathi, has helped prevent potential losses of around ₹475 crore, according to the ministry. The app lets users report suspicious calls directly from their call logs — a function the minister says empowers digitally aware citizens to help protect more vulnerable users.
“Digital security for every citizen is our top priority,” Scindia said. “Sanchar Saathi is voluntary, transparent and designed solely to protect India’s mobile consumers without compromising privacy.”
