Centre vs Opposition over Sanchar Saathi app; vehicles now Delhi's top pollutant

A debate examines the controversy surrounding the Indian government's 'Sanchar Saathi' mobile application, which has been mandated for pre-installation on all new smartphones. The government projects the app as a crucial cybersecurity tool designed to help citizens track lost phones and prevent telecom fraud. However, the directive has triggered significant debate, with privacy advocates and opposition parties raising concerns about potential surveillance, data privacy violations, and the constitutional validity of such a mandate.

The programme also highlights a new report from the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), which identifies vehicular emissions as the primary cause of Delhi’s severe air pollution this winter—shifting the spotlight away from stubble burning. Additionally, the broadcast covers key national crime updates, including the arrest of JKLF's Shafaat Ahmed Shanglu in the 35-year-old Rubaiya Saeed kidnapping case and the mob lynching of para-powerlifter Rohit Dhankhar in Haryana.