Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Monday his transition to Zoho, the Indian-developed platform for office productivity applications, marking a significant endorsement of homegrown technology solutions.
The announcement came through Vaishnaw's official X account, where he called on citizens to embrace Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Swadeshi initiative by choosing domestic products and services over foreign alternatives.
"I am moving to Zoho — our own Swadeshi platform for documents, spreadsheets & presentations. I urge all to join PM Narendra Modi's call for Swadeshi by adopting indigenous products & services," the minister wrote.
The decision drew immediate appreciation from Zoho's CEO Sridhar Vembu who expressed gratitude for Vaishnaw's support, describing it as significant encouragement for his development team.
"Thank you Sir, this is a huge morale boost for our engineers who have worked hard for over two decades to build our product suite," Vembu responded. "We will make you proud and make our nation proud. Jai Hind."
The minister's platform switch aligns with India's accelerating push toward technological self-sufficiency and digital independence. This strategic direction has gained momentum as the government seeks to reduce dependence on international technology providers while strengthening domestic capabilities.
Prime Minister Modi reinforced this message in his recent letter to Indian citizens, encouraging support for domestically manufactured products during the ongoing festive period.
"On the auspicious occasion of Navratri, I extend my warm greetings to you and your families. May the festival bring health, happiness, and prosperity to all. This year, there is an additional reason to celebrate — from September 22, the next-generation GST reforms have come into effect, ushering in a nationwide 'GST Bachat Utsav' or savings festival," Modi wrote.
The Prime Minister connected the Swadeshi movement to his ambitious 'Viksit Bharat 2047' vision, emphasizing how purchasing domestic goods supports the broader economy while benefiting local communities.
"Every time you buy a product made by our artisans, workers, and industries, you are helping families earn their living and creating job opportunities for our youth," Modi stated, while encouraging business owners to prioritize local merchandise.
In his recent national address, the Prime Minister highlighted the additional festive significance brought by the "GST Bachat Utsav" initiative, enabled through comprehensive Next Generation GST reforms.
PM Modi explained that these regulatory changes would reduce household financial burdens, support small enterprises, and enhance India's appeal to international investors.
What is Zoho?
Zoho is an Indian multinational technology company recognized for its extensive collection of web-based business applications and office productivity tools, serving organizations across various scales globally.
Established in 1996 under Sridhar Vembu's leadership, the company provides more than 80 applications covering sales, marketing, finance, human resources, information technology, analytics, and additional business functions—establishing itself as a comprehensive business software solution.
The platform has gained recognition as a cost-effective and unified alternative to established services including Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Salesforce.
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