This app provides everything you need, including social media messenger and other useful apps, along with end-to-end encrypted chat functionality.
India may soon launch its own mobile app store as an alternative to Google and Apple platforms, following complaints by start-ups that these stores enforce unfair business practices.
Aarogya Setu
Aarogya Setu app, created by the National Informatics Centre under Ministry of Electronics and IT, is an essential mobile service designed to connect essential health services with Indian citizens in their fight against Coronavirus infection and augment government initiatives by raising awareness on risks and best practices.
The App uses Bluetooth and GPS technologies to track user locations. It also keeps a cloud record of their movements; critics of this practice consider it intrusive from a privacy standpoint; for example, those who gain access to someone’s location could potentially gain insight into their home address, work place address, social status status and religion or caste affiliations.
Aarogya Setu is available on both Android and iOS devices, supporting multiple Indian languages including Telugu, Marathi, Malayalam, Hindi and English. A feature phone variant is also provided to those without access to smartphones. In terms of privacy policies, Aarogya Setu’s privacy policies have been updated three times to explicitly state that user data will not be shared with third parties.
UMANG
UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-Age Governance) is a mobile app developed to provide Indian citizens access to pan India e-government services. An initiative of both MeitY and NeGD, this portal aims to implement mobile governance throughout India and is available for all users regardless of location.
This app has been created to offer citizens access to a comprehensive array of central and state government services in one location, such as tax filings, Aadhaar-based payments transactions, utility bill payments and public grievance services. Furthermore, a Digilocker feature enables citizens to store documents digitally.
UMANG portal is free and easily accessible from any smartphone, providing users with user-friendly service in 23 languages. In addition, it integrates with popular customer-oriented services such as Digilocker and Myscheme; accessible on Android and iOS devices as well as desktops/laptops; with its dedicated customer service team available from 8am-8pm throughout every weekday.
Digilocker
DigiLocker is a cloud-based platform designed to store authentic documents and allow citizens to exchange e-documents securely, a key initiative under the government’s Digital India initiative. Available as both Android and iOS apps for free download, its key advantages are accessing documents anytime anywhere and verifying electronic documentation – all while eliminating physical documentation requirements.
DigiLocker users must first sign up using either their mobile number or Aadhaar card. After signing, they will receive an OTP on their registered mobile number and can set a 6-digit security PIN to protect their account – giving them access to it anytime, anywhere.
DigiLocker allows users to link their accounts with government databases in order to gain direct access to official documents and certificates verified by the government. Furthermore, this app uses advanced encryption protocols hosted under ISO 27001 standards that offer 256-bit SSL protection for added data protection.
The Hindu
The Hindu news app is an essential tool for keeping up with current affairs, offering a clutter-free interface and quick page loads. Unlike other news apps, it provides authentic and credible news free of charge, featuring podcasts, videos, photo stories and cartoons – ideal for staying current on India and world affairs alike! Furthermore, you can personalise news based on topics and locations for maximum convenience.
The Hindu is one of India’s oldest and largest English newspapers, offering daily articles that can be read either offline or online through its official ePaper app on mobile devices. Subscribers to The Hindu can access articles daily via its app’s “Daily Reads,” as well as archives, curated news briefings, top news editorials, video series such as Worldview with Suhasini Haidar as well as archives. Downloaded for free via Play Store.
Indian Express
Indian Express, established in 1932, is an English-language daily newspaper with national news, international updates, lifestyle articles, and entertainment coverage. Over its history it has won several prestigious awards such as Vienna-based International Press Institution Award and Kurt Shorck Award for journalism in public interest. Indian Express is owned by Express Group of Publications which also publishes The Financial Express an Indian business newspaper as well as Lok Satta and Jansatta Gujarati papers.
The Indian Express app gives users on-the-go access to breaking headlines and news updates. Its revamped home feed provides instantaneous access to aggregated news experiences across your favourite topics, while improving performance and discovery via an intuitive ad-free user experience. In addition, Push notifications alert users when breaking news occurs so you always stay up-to-date.
I decided to read IE instead of Hindu because the latter can sometimes be too antigovernment and leftist for my taste, while IE gives more emphasis on government issues, making it balanced and secular while being free – not forgetting all its amazing features such as TV channels, epaper and podcasts!