Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, has announced that he now uses the Indian platform Zoho for handling his documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Could it serve as an alternative to software from global giants like Microsoft and Google?
Ashwini Vaishnaw is now urging people to look closer to home, turning attention towards India’s very own software suite, Zoho. Image courtesy: Zoho,
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has sparked online conversation by revealing that he is moving to Zoho for handling documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, highlighting his support for Indian-made software.
For years, Microsoft Office has been the leading paid solution for such tasks, with Google’s online tools also widely used. Now, Vaishnaw is encouraging people to consider homegrown alternatives, putting the spotlight on India’s own software offerings.
On X (formerly Twitter), the Electronics and IT Minister shared, “I am switching to Zoho — India’s own platform for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. I encourage everyone to follow PM Shri @narendramodi Ji’s call for Swadeshi by using homegrown products and services.”
Zoho Ulaa is a privacy-focused web browser developed by Zoho Corporation, a technology company known for its ethical approach to software development. Launched in 2023, Ulaa positions itself as a secure, tracking-free alternative to mainstream browsers that often monetize user data. It is built on the Chromium engine but has been stripped of tracking capabilities, aiming to provide a safer and more private browsing experience for both individual and enterprise users. Learn more and give it a try here:
What is Zoho?
Zoho Corporation, founded in 1996 by Sridhar Vembu and Tony Thomas, is a Chennai-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) company. Over time, it has expanded into a major player, providing over 80 cloud-based tools for businesses, including email, HR, accounting, CRM, project management, and more.
While legally incorporated in the US, Zoho has consistently embraced a ‘Made in India’ identity, with much of its key operations based in Tenkasi, a rural town in Tamil Nadu.
Sridhar Vembu, founder of Zoho, has always carried a strong ‘Made in India’ ethos, with much of its core operations running from rural Tamil Nadu’s Tenkasi. Image courtesy: Zoho
Today, Zoho generates over $1 billion in annual revenue and has a presence in multiple countries, including the US. Its products serve more than 100 million users across 150+ nations, from small startups to Fortune 500 companies.
For productivity, Zoho offers a collection of tools under Zoho Workplace and Zoho Office Suite, which can also be used individually. These solutions compete directly with major players like Microsoft Office 365 and Google Workspace.
Privacy as a Priority: Zoho stands out for its strong focus on user privacy. Unlike many global tech giants, it doesn’t depend on advertisements, ensuring that user data remains confidential.
The company also gained attention for winning an IT Ministry-backed challenge to create a new web browser. This browser was designed to tackle a longstanding issue—mainstream browsers’ hesitation to trust security certificates from Indian firms. Although it hasn’t yet been made mandatory for official use, this achievement boosted Zoho’s reputation as a credible homegrown tech player.
Affordability is another major advantage. Compared to Microsoft and Google, Zoho’s pricing is more accessible, making it particularly popular among India’s small and medium-sized businesses.
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Recognition has followed its success. In 2021, CEO Sridhar Vembu was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor. As of 2024, Forbes lists him as India’s 39th richest person, with a net worth of approximately Rs 50,000 crore.
***Zoho CEO Responds to Vaishnaw’s Endorsement
Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu warmly welcomed the Union Minister’s move. In response, he tweeted, “Thank you Sir, this is a huge morale boost for our engineers… We will make you proud and make our nation proud. Jai Hind.”
PM Modi’s push for Swadeshi goods
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly encouraged Indians to embrace homegrown products, linking it to his broader goal of a self-reliant “Viksit Bharat 2047.”
In a festive-season address, he urged citizens to choose Made-in-India goods, highlighting that every purchase directly supports local artisans, workers, and industries.
“Each time you buy a product made by our artisans, workers, and industries, you are helping families earn a livelihood and generating employment opportunities for our youth,” he said, also urging traders to actively promote domestic products.
People shop for essential goods at a supermarket in Amritsar
This festive season brings more cheer with the launch of new GST reforms from September 22, simplifying India’s tax system to just two slabs: 5% and 18%.
Items that were earlier taxed at 12% now move to the lower 5% bracket, while most products previously in the 28% slab will drop to 18%. However, the 40% compensation cess on luxury and sin goods remains unchanged.
PM Modi says these GST reforms will lighten household expenses, support small businesses, and position India as an appealing destination for global investors, especially amid rising tariff pressures from the West.