India is advancing a comprehensive set of new phone security regulations that are generating considerable apprehension among leading global smartphone manufacturers, including Apple, Google, and Samsung. The proposed rules, highlighted in a recent Reuters report, mandate requirements such as the disclosure of proprietary source code for review by government-approved labs in India. Additionally, manufacturers would need to notify the government before releasing major software updates or security fixes, with the National Centre for Communication Security having the right to test these updates first. Other stipulations include restrictions on background app permissions, periodic user alerts for permission reviews, one-year retention of security audit logs, and tamper-detection warnings. Tech firms, represented by industry groups like MAIT, are vocally opposing these measures, contending that they have no global precedent and could compromise corporate secrecy and sensitive intellectual property. Apple, for instance, has historically resisted similar demands in other countries. While India's IT Secretary has indicated a willingness to address legitimate industry concerns, the proposals are viewed by companies as impractical and potentially exposing their technology to risks. The Indian government asserts that these rules are crucial for enhancing the security of user data and combating the increasing incidence of online fraud and data breaches in the country's vast smartphone market, which boasts nearly 750 million users. Although some reports from mid-2025 suggested a relaxation in the blanket requirement for source code submission, shifting towards self-declaration and requests only in exceptional circumstances, the continued emphasis on source code disclosure in recent reports indicates that this remains a contentious 'flashpoint' for the industry.