After the success of apps like Arattai and Zoho, India’s indigenous tech movement has gained another boost. The government is now backing Mappls, a homegrown alternative to Google Maps, developed by MapmyIndia.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday shared a video of himself using the app, praising its features and calling it a must-try innovation under Atmanirbhar Bharat.
“Swadeshi ‘Mappls’ by MapmyIndia. Good features… must try,” Vaishnaw posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Vaishnaw Showcases Mappls Features
In the video, Vaishnaw explored several features of the app during his journey. He said that Mappls has great potential for Indian Railways and confirmed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) will soon be signed to improve railway navigation across the country.
According to the minister, Mappls offers a three-dimensional junction view to help users avoid wrong turns, especially near bridges and underpasses.
“Wherever there is an overbridge or underpass, the app provides a 3D junction view to prevent mistakes. It can even guide users inside multistorey buildings,” he explained.
An Alternative to Google Maps
While Google Maps dominates global navigation, it has faced criticism for misleading routes in India.
In one tragic incident in Uttar Pradesh (November 2024), three people lost their lives after being directed toward an under-construction bridge.
Mappls aims to prevent such incidents with enhanced accuracy and a simplified interface. The app also stores all user data within India, ensuring data sovereignty and privacy, a growing concern with foreign platforms.
India’s First Digital Address System
MapmyIndia Mappls has also partnered with India Post to create the country’s first comprehensive digital address system. This is enabled through DIGIPIN, a geo-coded digital postal address system developed with IIT Hyderabad and ISRO’s NRSC.
The DIGIPIN system assigns a digital code to every 3.8-square-metre block in India. Users can generate coordinates by selecting a point on the map, improving address precision for deliveries, logistics, and navigation.
Rakesh Verma, co-founder and CMD of MapmyIndia, said:
“With Mappls PIN and DIGIPIN integration, users will be able to see exact house or floor locations. In rural areas, the nearest landmark will act as a reference point.”
Government’s Swadeshi Tech Drive
The Centre’s endorsement of Mappls reflects India’s growing focus on indigenous technology. The move aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a self-reliant digital India.
Earlier, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had endorsed Arattai, a Tamil messaging app by Zoho Corporation, as a Swadeshi alternative to WhatsApp.
Following Pradhan’s post, Arattai saw a surge in downloads and became viral. Zoho founder Sridhar Vembu said a major update is planned for November and assured users that his team is “working flat out” to improve performance.
Mappls: A Step Towards Digital Independence
The launch and government endorsement of Mappls signal a major milestone in India’s journey towards digital independence. By offering secure, locally stored data and advanced mapping features, the app represents India’s growing strength in homegrown technology and innovation.
