After a high-level meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 6, central government secretaries have received clear direction to encourage the growth of homegrown social media and digital platforms. The Cabinet Secretary, T V Somanathan, formalized the push in a letter on October 9, instructing ministries to “initiate action” toward building a domestic digital ecosystem.
Under the plan, secretaries were asked to support innovation by Indian tech firms in this domain, and to train young developers to build such platforms and related infrastructure locally. The directive even suggested reverse engineering as a tool to accelerate development.
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Why the Push for Indigenous Platforms
India’s internet penetration has ballooned—with nearly 969 million users by March 2025—but most rely on foreign platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, and X. The government aims to reduce this dependency, asserting that a domestic stack will strengthen digital sovereignty in privacy, security, and control.
The timing aligns with Narendra Modi’s repeated appeals for “swadeshi tech”, especially after trade tensions with the US and efforts to promote Make in India and self-reliant innovation. The push also taps into strategic concerns over foreign influence and data sovereignty.
Implementation and Expectations
Officials were also told to review their ministries’ communication workflows, respond more quickly to fast-breaking stories, and deploy digital outreach more aggressively. Departments like IT, education, tourism, and sports were explicitly flagged for upgrades in their digital strategies.
While the vision is bold, challenges remain, building scalable and trusted social platforms is no small feat. Tech experts emphasize that success will depend on strong backing for infrastructure, talent incentives, data protection, and user trust.
Still, this directive could mark a turning point in India’s digital trajectory. If executed well, India could eventually host platforms that compete on privacy, security, and cultural relevance — reducing reliance on foreign tech giants and giving voice to local innovation in the global social media space.
