Education Ministry Mandates Zoho Office For Official Work
The Union Ministry of Education has instructed all its departments and staff to use the Zoho Office Suite for official documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. The directive is part of the government’s push for digital self-reliance under the Swadeshi and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.
What The Order Says
A circular issued by the Department of Higher Education mandates creation, editing, and sharing of all official work using Zoho tools. The order also notes that Zoho is now integrated with the NIC mail platform, allowing officials to access it without separate logins. The memo was digitally signed by Nishant Upadhyaya, Under Secretary to the Government of India.
Reason And Goals
The Ministry says the shift aims to reduce dependence on foreign software and strengthen India’s domestic technology ecosystem. The order describes the move as a “bold step” toward digital sovereignty, and states that it supports transforming the country from a service economy into a product nation.
Implementation And Challenges
All officers are asked to familiarise themselves with Zoho’s features and use its collaborative tools. Technical support is to be provided through the CMIS/NIC divisions. Challenges may include compatibility with documents created in other suites and the learning curve for officials used to legacy software.
