<h1>Sanchar Saathi app pre-installation mandate withdrawn as government cites rapid rise in voluntary user downloads.</h1> The Department of Telecom's November 28 directive requiring smartphone makers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on new devices and push it via updates to older phones has been withdrawn after a tenfold surge in voluntary downloads (600,000 registrations in one day). The government cited rapidly increasing voluntary uptake and responded to controversy over privacy and surveillance concerns by removing the mandatory pre-installation requirement, leaving app distribution to voluntary mechanisms.