New Delhi, Dec. 2 -- A push by the Centre to curb phone-based scams by mandating a government app on every smartphone in circulation is likely to be opposed by the world's largest handset makers - including Apple, Google, Samsung - and even industry bodies, according to multiple executives Mint spoke with. The app, Sanchar Saathi, offers cyber security and surveillance features.

A non-removable government app may hinder a person's right to choose, may conflict with India's newly-minted data-privacy regime, and impose onerous compliance requirements, the executives said on condition of anonymity since their companies were still evaluating the government order.

On 28 November, the department of telecommunications (DoT) under the ministry ...