Can You Delete Sanchar Saathi App From Your Phone? Communication Minister's BIG Reveal

New Delhi: Union Minister for Communications Jyotiraditya Scindia on Tuesday said that the Sanchar Saathi App, which the government has directed to pre-install on all mobile phones, can be deleted from a smartphone if a user doesn't want the application.Making a statement on the matter, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said, "... If you don't want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it. It is optional... It is our duty to introduce this app to everyone. Keeping it in their devices or not, is upto the user..."Earlier, reports have surfaced that Sanchar Saathi App will come pre-installed in all phones and the user won't have the option to delete it.Scindia's clarification has come after a row had erupted after the Opposition accused the government of

snooping and surveillance by making it mandatory for people to keep the Sanchar Saathi App in their smartphones.

Why Govt Wants Sanchar Saathi App in All Phones

To safeguard the citizens from buying the non-genuine handsets, enabling easy reporting of suspected misuse of telecom resources and to increase the effectiveness of the Sanchar Saathi initiative, the Department of Telecommunication (DoT) mandated some norms for the manufacturers and importers of mobile handsets that are intended for use in India.They have been asked to ensure that the Sanchar Saathi mobile application is pre-installed on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported for use in India.The mobile handsets must have pre-installed Sanchar Saathi application readily visible and accessible to the end users at the time of first use or device setup, and that its functionalities are not disabled or restricted, the Ministry of Communications said in a statement Monday evening.For all such devices that have already been manufactured and are in sales channels in India, the manufacturer and importers of mobile handsets shall endeavour to push the App through software updates.Directions mandate completing the implementation within 90 days and submitting the report within 120 days.