Govt Shifts 12.68 Lakh Emails to Zoho

The Indian government has migrated about 12.68 lakh official email accounts from various ministries and departments to Zoho Mail, including 7.45 lakh accounts belonging to Central Government employees.

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Key details of the transition

• Scale of migration: Roughly 12.68 lakh accounts moved to Zoho Mail, making it one of the largest government email transitions in India’s history.
• Central government employees: Out of the total, 7.45 lakh accounts belong to Central Government staff.
• Data ownership: Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada, emphasized that data ownership remains with the government, ensuring sovereignty over sensitive communications.
• Security & productivity: The move is designed to enhance security, streamline communication, and improve productivity across ministries.
• Zoho partnership: This reflects a strategic collaboration with Zoho Corporation, an Indian SaaS company, reinforcing the government’s push for indigenous technology solutions.

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Why this matters

• Digital sovereignty: By partnering with Zoho, the government reduces reliance on foreign email providers, aligning with India’s broader Digital India and data localization goals.
• Cybersecurity: Centralized migration helps enforce uniform security protocols, reducing risks of fragmented systems across ministries.
• Efficiency: A unified platform simplifies inter-ministerial communication, potentially cutting down delays and improving coordination.

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Risks & challenges

• Transition hiccups: Large-scale migrations often face compatibility issues, downtime, or user adaptation challenges.
• Training needs: Government employees may require orientation and support to fully leverage Zoho’s features.
• Vendor dependence: While Zoho is domestic, reliance on a single provider could pose operational risks if service disruptions occur.

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Strategic context

This move fits into India’s broader tech sovereignty narrative, where the government increasingly favors homegrown platforms for critical infrastructure.
It also signals confidence in Zoho’s ability to handle enterprise-scale deployments, potentially boosting its credibility in global markets.