NEW DELHI: The central government’s dictum to makers regarding pre-installation of the Sanchar Saathi application on all mobile handsets manufactured or imported in India has sparked a massive political row over concerns of privacy breach.While the department of telecommunications (DoT) justified the measure as a move for “curbing IMEI misuse”, the opposition has raised red flags calling it a “snooping app” and terming the move “unconstitutional”. Some even compared it with Pegasus spyware.

The International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) is a unique number used to identify mobile phones. Most phones have one IMEI, but dual-SIM phones have two.

Sanchar Saathi App is a “citizen centric initiative of DoT to empower mobile subscribers, strengthen their security and increase awareness about citizen centric initiatives.”It offers services like reporting fraud calls or messages, checking phone genuineness through IMEI, finding and blocking lost phones, seeing all mobile numbers in your name, and reporting suspicious international calls. It requires permissions for call/SMS logs, sending SMS for registration, accessing photos/files, and using the camera for IMEI scanning.The controversy erupted after DoT directed all mobile manufacturers and importers to pre-install the Sanchar Saathi app on devices sold in India, calling it a move towards “strengthening cybersecurity and curbing IMEI misuse.”

Calling it a “dystopian” move, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal questioned the constitutionality of the move saying, “A pre-loaded government app that cannot be uninstalled is a dystopian tool to monitor every Indian. It is a means to watch over every movement, interaction and decision of each citizen.”“Big Brother cannot watch us. This DoT Direction is beyond unconstitutional. The Right to Privacy is an intrinsic part of the fundamental right to life and liberty, enshrined in Article 21 of the Constitution,” he said.Echoing similar sentiments, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi slammed the Centre for “turning this country into a dictatorship”. She termed it a “snooping app” and said that it was an “excuse to go into every citizen’s telephone”.“It is a snooping app. It’s ridiculous. Citizens have the right to privacy. Everyone must have the right to privacy to send messages to family, friends, without the government looking at everything… They are turning this country into a dictatorship in every form,” she said.“There’s a very fine line between reporting fraud and seeing what every citizen of India is doing on their phone. That’s not how it should work. There should be an effective system to report fraud. We’ve discussed this at great length on cybersecurity. There’s a need for cybersecurity, but that doesn’t mean that it gives you an excuse to go into every citizen’s telephone. I don’t think any citizen would be happy,” she added.“They brought in Pegasus and have been unable to keep it under control. MPs and MLAs all say that their phones are being tapped. For the last 11 years, basic rights of the Indians have been taken away… This is the real violation of National Security,” Congress MP Renuka Chowdhury said.Interestingly, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor said that the app could be “useful provided they are voluntary”.“I have not studied the issue in full detail, but common sense tells me that these apps can be useful provided they are voluntary. Everybody who needs them should be able to download them. Making anything compulsory in a democracy is troubling. But I need to look a little more into what the logic is of the government. In fact, the government should explain all this to the public instead of just passing an order that the media reports. I think we need to have a discussion where the government explains what their thinking is,” he said.

Centre offers big clarification

Shortly after the row, Union communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia clarified that the app could be deleted, dismissing opposition leaders’ “snooping” charges.“When the opposition has no issues, and they are trying to find some, we cannot help them. Our duty is to help the consumers and ensure their safety. The Sanchar Saathi app enables every consumer to ensure their safety… Sanchar Saathi portal has more than 20 crore downloads, and the app has more than 1.5 crore downloads… Sanchar Saathi has enabled the disconnection of nearly 1.75 crore fraudulent mobile connections,” he said.“Around 20 lakh stolen phones have been traced, and around 7.5 lakh stolen phones have been handed over to their owners, all because of Sanchar Saathi… This app does not enable snooping or call monitoring. You can activate or deactivate it as per your wish… If you don’t want Sanchar Saathi, you can delete it. It is optional… It is about customer protection. I want to clear all misconceptions… It is our duty to introduce this app to everyone. Keeping it on their devices or not is up upto the user… It can be deleted from the mobile phone just like any other app,” he added.

NAGPUR: Nishant Agarwal, a scientist at BrahMos Aerospace Limited, who was arrested in 2018 for allegedly passing sensitive defense secrets to Pakistan intelligence operatives, has been absolved of the major charges under the Information Technology Act and the Official Secrets Act.The lower court had earlier sentenced Agarwal to 14 years in prison for allegedly using IT systems to transmit classified information to adversaries of the country. However, in a significant development, the higher judiciary has now cleared him of these charges.

The only conviction upheld pertains to the possession of official documents on his personal device, for which the lower court had sentenced him to three years in prison. As Agarwal has already served this term during his detention, he is now eligible for immediate release.This ruling effectively ends the legal battle for Agarwal in the high-profile case that had attracted widespread attention due to the sensitive nature of the alleged breach involving defense secrets.Also See: Nishant AgarwalArrested in October 2018 through a joint operation by Military Intelligence (MI) and the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, Agrawal was employed in the technical research section of BAPL, an Indo-Russian joint venture that manufactures BrahMos missiles.Investigations revealed that crucial documents related to the BrahMos missile were found on his personal computers, violating BAPL’s security norms.The three apps that Pakistani spies used to trap BrahMos scientist Nishant AgrawalThe chats showed that ‘Sejal’ was part of a group that shared data and tips on deceiving Indian defence staffers. Awasthi told the court that on Sejal’s directions, Agrawal had clicked on links sent by her and installed three apps on his personal laptop in 2017.These apps were: Qwhisper, Chat to Hire and X-trust.These three apps were actually malware that stole data from Nishant’s laptop, which contained classified information. Investigations claim that crucial documents related to the BrahMos missile were found on his personal computers, violating BAPL’s security norms.Nishant is said to have chatted with Sejal on LinkedIn as well, where she reportedly showed interest in hiring him, posing as a recruiter in UK’s Hays Aviation.

Perth Scorchers Women host Melbourne Renegades Women at W.A.C.A. Ground in Perth on December 2, 2025, in a crucial WBBL|11 mid-table clash to boost playoff hopes. Both teams hold 8 points from 8 matches with 4 wins each, though Renegades lead slightly on net run rate (+0.140 vs -0.440).​

Perth Scorchers Women enter with mixed recent results (last 5: W L W W L), showing resilience at home where they recently defended low totals. Beth Mooney leads their batting with consistent scores, supported by Sophie Devine‘s all-round impact, while their pace attack thrives on WACA’s bounce. Melbourne Renegades Women have struggled lately (last 5: W L W L L), including a 45-run derby loss to Stars, hampered by fielding errors.

PS-W vs MR-W, WBBL|11: Match details

• Date and Time: December 02; 02:40 pm IST/ 09:10 am GMT/ 05:10 pm Local
• Venue: W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth

PS-W vs MR-W, Head-to-Head Record in WBBL

Matches played: 20 | Melbourne Renegades won: 6 | Perth Scorchers won: 14 | No result: 0

W.A.C.A. Ground Pitch Report

The W.A.C.A. Ground in Perth features one of the quickest and bounciest pitches globally, offering consistent pace and extra bounce that favours fast bowlers, especially with afternoon sea breezes aiding seam movement. In WBBL matches, it has hosted 36 games with teams batting second winning 21 times, reflecting a balanced yet bowler-friendly surface where the average first innings score hovers around 140. Recent outings, like Perth Scorchers’ low-scoring home games, underline low totals (under 150 common), making disciplined batting crucial amid skiddy bounce and a quick outfield. Pacers could dominate tomorrow’s clash, while spinners may find grip later. Expect a medium-scoring contest tilting towards bowlers.

Squads

Melbourne Renegades Women: Emma de Broughe, Courtney Webb, Sophie Molineux (c), Alice Capsey, Georgia Wareham, Deandra Dottin, Nicole Faltum (wk), Issy Wong, Sarah Coyte, Charis Bekker, Milly Illingworth, Naomi Stalenberg, Tess Flintoff, Davina Perrin, Sara Kennedy

Perth Scorchers Women: Katie Mack, Beth Mooney (wk), Maddy Darke, Sophie Devine (c), Freya Kemp, Paige Scholfield, Chloe Ainsworth, Ruby Strange, Lilly Mills, Amy Edgar, Alana King, Chloe Piparo, Mikayla Hinkley, Ebony Hoskin, Shay Manolini

Also READ: WBBL|11: Adelaide Strikers edge past Brisbane Heat in final-over Thriller; Ellyse Perry helps Sydney Sixers dominate Thunder in the derby clash

PS-W vs MR-W, WBBL|11: Today’s Match Prediction

Case 1:

• Melbourne Renegades wins the toss and bowl first
• Perth Scorchers powerplay score: 40-50
• Perth Scorchers total score: 130-140

Case 2:

• Perth Scorchers wins the toss and bowl first
• Melbourne Renegades powerplay score: 45-55
• Melbourne Renegades total score: 140-150

Match result: Team bowling first to win the game.

Also READ: WBBL|11: Nat Sciver-Brunt stars in Hobart Hurricanes’ 7-wicket victory over Perth Scorchers

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

MUMBAI: A Kuwait-Hyderabad Indigo flight was diverted to Mumbai Airport following a bomb threat, officials said.The flight made an emergency landing at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 7:45 am.Authorities are investigating the threat, and further details regarding the cause and outcome of the incident are awaited.The airline has not yet released an official statement.Travelers are advised to check for updates from Indigo and airport authorities.Earlier, a bomb threat email had been received on IndiGo’s grievance portal on November 12, which triggered a high alert at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) before authorities declared it a hoax. The message had mentioned several airports—including those in Delhi, Chennai, and Goa—prompting precautionary checks across all three locations, officials said. Threats had also been reported at airports in Mumbai and Hyderabad.According to Delhi Police, the email had been flagged around 4 pm, leading to a coordinated response by security agencies, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and the Delhi Fire Service.“A call was received at 4 pm regarding a bomb being found at Delhi Airport Terminal 3. However, after investigating the scene, it was ruled a hoax,” a fire department official confirmed.IndiGo’s internal system first detected the message. “The email was received on IndiGo’s grievance portal. It mentioned several other airports, including Delhi, Chennai, and Goa. Following the information, precautionary checks have been conducted at all locations,” Delhi Police said in a statement.(With agency inputs)

More than 1,300 players have registered for the Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction, turning the December 16 event in Abu Dhabi into one of the most competitive bidding days. According to a Cricbuzz report, a staggering 1,355 players feature on the 13-page auction register, reflecting a massive surge in both domestic and overseas aspirants eager to secure IPL contracts.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!From India, several well-known names such as Mayank Agarwal, KS Bharat, Rahul Chahar, Ravi Bishnoi, Akash Deep, Deepak Hooda, Venkatesh Iyer, Sarfaraz Khan, Shivam Mavi, Navdeep Saini, Chetan Sakariya, Kuldeep Sen, Prithvi Shaw, Rahul Tripathi, Sandeep Warrier and Umesh Yadav have thrown their hats into the ring. Only two Indians — Ravi Bishnoi and Venkatesh Iyer — have entered the auction with the highest base price of Rs 2 crore.

The overseas aspirants are equally star-studded. Australia’s Cameron Green, Steve Smith, Matthew Short have registered. England’s Jonny Bairstow, Jamie Smith, New Zealand’s Rachin Ravindra, and Sri Lankan stars Wanindu Hasaranga and Matheesha Pathirana headline the long list of overseas entries. In all, 43 overseas players have set their base price at Rs 2 crore.The diversity of the list stands out, with players from 14 countries, including rare entries from Malaysia and the USA. Among them is India-born Malaysian all-rounder Virandeep Singh, listed at a base price of Rs 30 lakh.Following the November 15 retention deadline, the 10 IPL teams collectively hold Rs 237.55 crore to spend. Kolkata Knight Riders lead with a wallet of Rs 64.30 crore, followed by Chennai Super Kings with Rs 43.40 crore. A total of 77 slots, including 31 overseas places, will be up for grabs, ensuring a highly competitive and closely watched auction day.

NEW DELHI: What if spotting a cluster of fevers or sudden diarrhoea cases in your neighbourhood could help stop an outbreak? A new nationwide system launched by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) is now making that possible — by turning ordinary citizens into the country’s earliest disease sentinels.At the heart of the system is a simple QR code. Anyone can scan it from the Health Ministry or NCDC website, or from posters and materials being rolled out across states. Once scanned, the user enters basic details and selects what they’re reporting — a fever cluster, recurring diarrhoea, jaundice, dog bites, suspected food poisoning or any other unusual health event. Photos or short videos can also be uploaded. The moment a report is submitted, the alert lands simultaneously in district, state and national surveillance dashboards, where officers verify it and initiate investigations if required.Dr Ranjan Das, director NCDC said that the tool fills a critical gap in India’s surveillance network. Many outbreaks begin silently in homes, neighbourhoods or small gatherings well before patients reach hospitals. A citizen report — sometimes within hours — can help health authorities intervene early, contain spread and prevent large-scale outbreaks.Dr Himanshu Chauhan, additional director and HOD IDSP call this a “game changer,” especially during dengue, diarrhoea, influenza and waterborne disease seasons. But they caution that the system will work only if citizens use it responsibly — and consistently.To protect users, all submissions are routed through secure government servers, with personal data safeguarded under national cyber-security protocols. False or irrelevant reports are filtered through a combination of automated checks and manual verification by trained district teams.The Community Reporting System, introduced in January 2024 under the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP), was envisioned to give communities a direct role in early outbreak detection. Despite being launched in 2024, the tool remained largely unknown due to poor efforts to popularize it, resulting in only about 100 valid reports so far. The low utilisation highlights the gap between technology and public engagement, though officials say even this early trickle shows that once people know the platform exists, they are willing to report.The message from NCDC is clear: public health isn’t just a government job — it needs citizen vigilance too. Sometimes, a QR scan and 30 seconds may be all it takes to stop the next outbreak.