In a major stride toward digital self-reliance, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has directed all its departments and affiliated institutions to transition to the Zoho Office Suite, an Indian-developed productivity platform. The move is part of the government’s ambitious “Swadeshi Digital” initiative, aimed at promoting indigenous technology and reducing dependency on foreign software solutions.
The directive, issued this week, mandates the use of Zoho Writer, Zoho Sheet, and Zoho Show for all official documentation, replacing global alternatives such as Microsoft Office and Google Workspace. The Ministry stated that this transition will enhance data security, cost efficiency, and national digital sovereignty.
Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailed the decision as a defining step in advancing the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision. “India is home to world-class digital innovators. It is time our institutions lead by example in trusting and adopting Indian technologies that are secure, capable, and globally competitive,” he said.
The adoption of Zoho — a Chennai-based global SaaS leader — underscores the government’s confidence in homegrown enterprise solutions. Zoho is recognized for its privacy-centric approach, robust collaboration tools, and commitment to data localization, aligning well with India’s digital governance objectives.
To ensure a smooth transition, the Ministry has planned training and orientation programs for staff and faculty across central and state education bodies. Institutions under the MoE’s purview — including universities, IITs, and autonomous organizations — will gradually migrate to the new platform over the coming months.
This move is expected to set a precedent for other ministries and government departments to adopt indigenous digital ecosystems, further strengthening the “Made in India” technology narrative.
