In a significant step towards India’s digital independence, the government has transitioned the official email accounts of 1.2 million Central employees to a platform created by Chennai-based Zoho. This replaces the old system run by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), which aims to keep government data secure, under Indian control, and less dependent on foreign technology.
The migration covers several ministries and departments, including the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). It marks one of the largest cloud transitions in India’s public sector and reflects the government’s focus on digital self-reliance.
Why Was This Change Needed?
The government had been using NIC’s email system for years. It worked, but times changed. Data security threats are bigger now. Foreign control over technology infrastructure became a concern. The government wanted something built and controlled in India.
The move is part of the Digital India initiative, aimed at creating a secure, indigenous digital infrastructure. Reports say that the Digital India Corporation initiated the tender in 2023, inviting companies to host and manage government email services. Zoho was chosen for its proven ability to manage large-scale enterprise email hosting securely.
Why Was Zoho Selected?
Zoho, headquartered in Chennai, a global SaaS leader, was selected for its true expertise in secure, large-scale, enterprise email hosting and its strong commitment to privacy.
The company has been around for four decades and serves millions globally, but there is more to the story. Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu made a statement that explains the real reason behind the shift.
He stated, “Technology today can be a weapon against a country like India. The technology has to be within India and subject to Indian law so that Indian laws can apply.”
That’s the core issue. When government data sits on foreign servers, it falls under foreign laws. India wanted to change that.
The new system also integrates the Zoho office productivity suite, allowing documents, spreadsheets, and presentations to be collaborated on within a secure ecosystem. This not only enhances efficiency but also discourages reliance on open-source or foreign-hosted tools that may pose data risks.
Top Ministers Are Already Using It
Hello everyone,
I have switched to Zoho Mail. Kindly note the change in my email address.
My new email address is amitshah.bjp @ https://t.co/32C314L8Ct. For future correspondence via mail, kindly use this address.
Thank you for your kind attention to this matter.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 8, 2025
Union ministers, including Amit Shah and Ashwini Vaishnaw, have already made the switch, announcing it publicly on social media.
“Hello everyone, I have switched to Zoho Mail,” Amit Shah wrote on Twitter, sharing his new official email ID.
When ministers at this level publicly switch and share their new email addresses, it shows confidence in the system. It also encourages other government employees to adopt it without any hesitation.
Security Questions Remain
While the move has been praised as a landmark in India’s digital sovereignty and cybersecurity, experts have called for continued transparency and regular audits.
The praise is deserved, but the experts want more. They are asking for independence, security, audits, and transparency reports. Questions around encryption standards and data privacy persist, with some experts noting the importance of end-to-end encryption to ensure sensitive government communications remain fully protected.
Does the system use end-to-end encryption? How is data protected during transmission? These questions need clear answers, especially when dealing with PMO communications and sensitive ministry data.
What Makes Zoho Different?
Zoho’s business model sets it apart from tech giants like Google and Microsoft. Those companies often make money from advertising and user data. Zoho doesn’t. They sell software directly to businesses. No ads, no data mining.
This matters when you are handling government emails. A company that doesn’t profit from data is less likely to misuse it.
That said, continuous monitoring is essential. No system is perfect from day one. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments will be necessary.
Part Of A Bigger Strategy
This email migration is not happening alone. It is part of India’s broader push for digital independence.
For four decades, Indian businesses and government offices have depended on American technology — Google for email and cloud storage, Microsoft for productivity tools, and Amazon Web Services for infrastructure. These are good services, but they create dependency.
What happens if international relations get complicated? What if a foreign government demands access to data stored by its companies? These aren’t just theoretical concerns anymore.
By choosing Zoho, India reduces that dependency. It shows Indian companies can handle critical infrastructure. It keeps sensitive data within national borders.
Atmanirbhar Bharat Connection
This move is in alignment with the “Atmanirbhar Bharat” campaign. While that initiative focuses on manufacturing, digital independence is equally important.
India has already built an impressive digital system. UPI revolutionized payments. Aadhaar created a massive digital identity framework. India has started to become a model for other developing countries.
The Zoho migration fits into this narrative. It demonstrates that India can build and manage critical digital infrastructure without foreign help.
Challenges Ahead
Moving 1.2 million email accounts is not simple. There will be problems. Some employees will struggle with the new interface. The IT helpdesk will get flooded with questions. Emails might get lost during migration. Passwords will need resetting.
These are normal issues with any major technology transition. The key is how quickly they get resolved.
There is also the long-term challenge. Technology doesn’t stay still. Zoho needs to keep improving the platform. New features must be added. Security threats evolve constantly. The government must allocate resources for ongoing development and maintenance.
Global Context
India is not alone in this thinking. Other countries are also questioning their dependence on American tech companies.
China built its own tech ecosystem years ago. European countries are pushing for data sovereignty through GDPR and other regulations. Brazil is developing its own digital infrastructure.
The trend is clear. Countries want control over their critical data and digital systems. The migration places India firmly in this group.
If this succeeds, other nations might look at India as a model. If it faces major problems, critics will argue that foreign platforms are just better.
More Than Just Email
The migration includes Zoho’s full productivity suite. Government employees can now create documents, spreadsheets, and presentations within the same system. No need to jump between different platforms.
This integration is smart. It reduces security risks from using multiple third-party tools. It simplifies training since everything works within one ecosystem. It also means less data moving across different platforms and servers.
Data Sovereignty Matters
There is a bigger principle at play here. Data sovereignty means that data is subject to the laws of the country where it is stored.
When Indian government data sits on servers in California, American laws apply. If the US government demands access, the company might have to comply. Indian laws might not matter much.
When that same data sits on servers in India, managed by an Indian company, Indian laws apply. The government has more control. Foreign interference becomes harder.
This matters for a country with over 1 billion people and a rapidly growing digital economy.
The Practical Side
For the 1.2 million government employees, this means learning a new system. New login procedures. Different interface. Features in different places. The government needs a robust training program, clear documentation, a responsive helpdesk, and patient IT support staff.
Some employees will adapt quickly. Others will take time. The rest will resist. That’s human nature with any change.
Success depends largely on how well this transition is managed at the ground level.
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