In this Special Report, Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai discusses the controversy surrounding the government's directive to pre-install the 'Sanchar Saathi' app on all mobile phones. Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarifies,

Apple and Samsung will engage with the government regarding the Sanchar Saathi app pre-installation directive. The directive mandates the app on all new mobile phones and via software updates on existing devices.

New Delhi wants a government app installed on all of the country's mobile phones, but opposition MPs and privacy advocates have voiced concerns about surveillance.

Apple believes the Sanchar Saathi preload mandate raises privacy and security concerns and plans to take up the issue with the government.

Consumers will be free to delete the Sanchar Saathi app preloaded on new smartphones, Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified, after the DoT directed manufacturers to install the cybersecurity tool on all devices.