Zoho’s new software ecosystem has generated a lot of attention from prominent figures in Indian politics. While Arattai has been hogging headlines, Zoho’s office suite is widely getting recognised as a homegrown alternative to foreign-based services from Microsoft and Google. However, in a shocking announcement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that he has transitioned to Zoho’s email service for all his professional requirements.
In a post on X, the Home Minister publicly confirmed a significant personal transition from a global email provider to the Indian-made Zoho Mail. The declaration not only promotes domestic technology but also highlights the government’s push toward digital self-reliance.
“I have switched to Zoho Mail,” Shah stated, highlighting a choice to support India’s homegrown technology over something else.
“My new email address is amitshah.bjp@zohomail.in. For future correspondence via mail, kindly use this address,” he added, urging everyone to reach out to him via his new email address.
Amit Shah switches to Zoho Mail
Shah’s decision to switch to a homegrown mailing service comes amidst a period of geopolitical turmoil, especially with the US sanctioning new trade taxes that affect services and policies. The minister’s decision is widely interpreted as a symbolic, yet significant, step to promote the use of Indian software and services for critical and sensitive communications. The move also aligns with the government’s ‘Digital India’ and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ initiatives.
Zoho Mail: What does it offer
Security and privacy: Zoho Mail employs robust security measures, including end-to-end encryption for emails (via S/MIME), advanced anti-spam and anti-virus filters, and two-factor authentication. For the Indian government’s priorities, Zoho guarantees data localisation, ensuring that user data is stored exclusively in Indian data centres, indirectly addressing major concerns regarding foreign surveillance or regulatory compliance.
Ad-free experience: Zoho Mail is known for its privacy-first model, which means the service is completely ad-free and does not scan or mine user emails for advertising purposes. This makes it more suitable for a professional environment.
Better integration: Zoho Mail is integrated with the broader Zoho Workplace suite, which includes tools like Zoho Docs (file management), Zoho Calendar, and Zoho Chat, providing a unified ecosystem for enterprise users.
Features for governance: The service supports large enterprise deployments, offering custom domains, extensive storage, powerful e-discovery features, and comprehensive compliance tools necessary for government and regulated sectors.
