Partner
Delhi records over 200,000 respiratory illness cases due to toxic air
Delhi, with its sprawling metropolitan region of 30 million residents, is regularly ranked among the world's most polluted capitals
Dec 03, 2025
Dec 03, 2025
Delhi, with its sprawling metropolitan region of 30 million residents, is regularly ranked among the world's most polluted capitals
India has dropped its confidential plan to require Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi to preload the Sanchar Saathi app on new phones
Apple does not plan to comply with a mandate to preload its smartphones with a state-owned cyber safety app and will convey its concerns to New Delhi, three sources familiar with the matter said, after the government's move sparked surveillance concerns.
The Indian government has confidentially ordered companies including Apple, Samsung and Xiaomi to preload their phones with an app called Sanchar Saathi, or Communication Partner, within 90 days. The app is intended to track stolen phones, block them and prevent them from being misused.
The government also wants manufacturers to ensure that the app is not disabled. And for devices already in the supply chain, manufacturers should push the app to phones via software updates, Reuters was first to report on Monday.
India's telecom ministry confirmed the move later, describing it as a security measure to combat "serious endangerment" of cyber security. But Prime Minister Narendra Modi's political opponents and privacy advocates criticized the move, saying it is a way for the government to gain access to India's 730 million smartphones.
Apple does not plan to comply with the directive and will tell the government it does not follow such mandates anywhere in the world as they raise a host of privacy and security issues for the company's iOS ecosystem, said two of the industry sources who are familiar with Apple's concerns. They declined to be named publicly as the company's strategy is private.
"Its not only like taking a sledgehammer, this is like a double-barrel gun," said the first source.
Apple and the telecom ministry did not respond to requests for comment.
The app order comes as Apple is locked in a court fight with an Indian watchdog over the nation's antitrust penalty law. Apple has said it risks facing a fine of up to $38 billion in a case.
The second source said Apple does not plan to go to court or take a public stand, but it will tell the government it cannot follow the order because of security vulnerabilities.
Apple "can't do this. Period," the person said.
Other brands including Samsung are reviewing the order, said a fourth industry source who is familiar with the matter. Samsung did not respond to Reuters queries.
Sources have said the government moved forward with the order without industry consultation.
While Apple tightly controls its App Store and proprietary iOS software - which are crucial to its $100-billion-per-year services business - Google's Android is open-sourced, allowing manufacturers like Samsung and Xiaomi greater leeway to modify their software.
India's main opposition Congress Party has called for a rollback of the mandate. On X, KC Venugopal, a top Congress leader, said "Big Brother cannot watch us."
The government's press release said the app can help tackle incidents of duplicated or spoofed IMEI numbers, which enable scams and network misuse.
"India has big second-hand mobile device market," the telecom ministry said in a statement late on Monday. "Cases have also been observed where stolen or blacklisted devices are being re-sold."
Former India captain Kohli still plays T20 cricket in the Indian Premier League
The order gives major smartphone companies 90 days to ensure that the government's Sanchar Saathi app is pre-installed on new mobile phones
Putin last went to India in December 2021, just a few months before ordering troops into Ukraine in February 2022
New Delhi relies heavily on imports to meet current demand, which the government says could double by 2030
World's fifth-largest economy last week implemented long-awaited labor laws that will replace colonial-era legislation and simplify a maze of confusing regulation
World Test champions South Africa bowled out a dismal India for 140 in a mammoth chase of 549 on day five in Guwahati for a 2-0 Test sweep
Indian media reports a UK-based woman holding an Indian passport was stopped by Chinese authorities during a layover in Shanghai on November 21
Air India says it had cancelled 11 flights on Monday and Tuesday to make precautionary checks on aircraft
Director Karan Johar calls it 'the end of an era' as fans mourn the iconic ‘He-Man’ of Indian cinema
The restart of talks highlights thawing relations between the two countries as Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney pushes to expand trade ties beyond the US
Such a public loss will inevitably overshadow India's efforts to establish the jet abroad after a painstaking development over four decades
Kabul turns to India as repeated Pakistan border closures push Afghan trade toward Iran and Central Asia
Abu Dhabi delegation’s visit to India highlighted opportunities for family business partnerships across key sectors
The jet crashed at about 2:10 p.m. local time while flying a demonstration flight for a crowd
Indian officials are investigating whether safety lapses in the supply of a pharmaceutical ingredient were responsible for contaminating cough syrup that has killed at least 24 children in recent months
NIA identifies four prime accused from Indian Kashmir and northern India
Led by skipper Bavuma, South Africa defied the odds on a turning pitch with inconsistent bounce at Eden Gardens to beat India at their own game of spin
