New Delhi: The Union government on Wednesday revoked its direction to phone manufacturers to mandatorily pre-install state-run Sanchar Saathi cybersecurity app on all mobile phones amid widespread criticism from the Opposition and civil rights activists against the directive.

The government cited “increasing acceptance” of the contentious app to justify the U-turn. “Given Sanchar Saathi’s increasing acceptance, the government has decided not to make the pre-installation mandatory for mobile manufacturers,” the Ministry of Communications said in a statement.

The ministry claimed the app recorded a 10-fold jump in downloads on Tuesday, rising from a daily average of around 60,000 to nearly six lakh.

“This is an affirmation of faith by citizens on this app for protecting themselves provide

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