“The TCS Rules empowers the Central Government to issue directions to manufacturers of telecommunication equipment bearing International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number to provide assistance as required in relation to tampered telecommunication equipment or IMEI number. The Rules also mandates that such manufacturers or importers shall ensure compliance with the directions as may be issued by the Central Government for the purpose of giving effect to the rules,” said DoT in a statement on Monday.
As per the government, this directive responds to challenges arising from duplicate or spoofed IMEI numbers, which threaten telecom security by allowing the same IMEI to work on different devices simultaneously. Such tampering complicates enforcement and fuels the resale of stolen or blacklisted phones in India’s large second-hand device market, risking customers’ finances.
“India has a big second-hand mobile device market. Cases have also been observed where stolen or blacklisted devices are being resold. It makes the purchaser abettor in crime and causes financial loss to them. The blocked/blacklisted IMEIs can be checked using Sanchar Saathi App,” said the statement.
Dictatorial, says digital rights activist
Privacy advocates have criticised the latest move with some calling it dictatorial in nature.
“This is a first. India has never before required an unremovable state app on every device. Russia does btw, with its MAX Messenger (started September 2025),” said Nikhil Pahwa, digital rights activist and founder of MediaNama.
“Sanchar Saathi is a lost phone tracker, but if it gets embedded with no possibility of removal, it becomes a government tracker on your device…The way things work with India’s Department of Telecom, there was no public consultation, the order wasn’t disclosed. Just forced. This is dictatorial in nature. If they get away with this, more will follow,” said Pahwa on X.
The DoT has also recently directed over-the-top (OTT) communication apps, including WhatsApp and Telegram, to ensure SIM binding within 90 days. This means the OTT app will remain linked to the mobile number on a particular device and will bar users from accessing the services without the SIM card used to register for the application.
