The Education Ministry has directed its officials to use the Zoho Office Suite for all official documentation, marking a major step toward digital self-reliance. This move comes after Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan endorsed Zoho’s messaging app, Arattari, aligning with the government’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
A circular from the Department of Higher Education highlighted that adopting Zoho forms part of a larger plan to reduce dependence on foreign software and boost India’s indigenous tech ecosystem. The ministry has instructed its staff to create, edit, and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations using Zoho’s tools, while utilizing its collaborative features for better teamwork and communication.
Zoho has been integrated into the NIC mail platform, enabling access without additional logins or installations. Officials expect this shift to enhance workflow efficiency, collaboration, and data security. Senior leaders called the move a “bold step” in developing a secure, scalable IT infrastructure within the government.
This focus on homegrown digital solutions is expanding, with IT and I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also publicly endorsing Zoho for official use.
