After the success of Arattai and Zoho, another Indian app is gaining attention. Mappls, developed by MapmyIndia, has become the latest part of India’s “Swadeshi” tech movement. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video on Saturday showing himself using the app. It appeared to be a local alternative to Google Maps, the world’s most-used navigation tool.
Vaishnaw posted on X, saying, “Swadeshi ‘Mappls’ by MapmyIndia. Good features…must try.” In the video, he explored the app’s unique tools and explained why it stands out among other mapping services.
Swadeshi ‘Mappls’ by MapmyIndia 🇮🇳
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) October 11, 2025
Good features…must try! pic.twitter.com/bZOPgvrCxW
Features That Make Mappls Different
Google Maps dominates global navigation but has faced criticism for errors. In November 2024, three men in Uttar Pradesh died after their car fell into a river. They were reportedly following a route suggested by Google Maps that led to an under-construction bridge.
Mappls aims to avoid such incidents. The app offers a three-dimensional junction view whenever a bridge or underpass appears ahead. This helps users identify correct routes and stay safe.
Vaishnaw said, “Wherever there is an over bridge or underpass, the app provides a three-dimensional junction view to ensure that users are not mistaken.” He added that Mappls even works inside multistoried buildings, guiding users to specific floors.
The app also keeps all map data and user information within India, ensuring data privacy and sovereignty—an issue many users worry about when using foreign apps.
Vaishnaw also revealed that Indian Railways will soon sign an MoU with Mappls to improve navigation systems across its network.
India’s First Digital Address System
MapmyIndia has also partnered with India Post to build the country’s first digital address system. According to PTI, MapmyIndia co-founder Rakesh Verma said, “MapmyIndia Mappls proudly joins hands with India Post to bring to life India’s first comprehensive digital address system through DIGIPIN integration.”
The DIGIPIN (Digital Postal Index Number) system, created with IIT Hyderabad and ISRO’s NRSC, assigns a unique code to every 3.8-square-metre block in India. Users can generate a digital coordinate for their exact location. This can be used along with traditional addresses to improve accuracy.
Verma said that Mappls PIN, combined with DIGIPIN, can even show the floor and flat number of a digital address. He added, “In areas where the Mappls PIN is not active like rural areas, Mappls will generate PIN, making the nearest landmark as a reference point.”
Ministers Support Swadeshi Apps
The Indian government is pushing for homegrown apps to reduce dependence on foreign technology. Vaishnaw’s post about Mappls followed his earlier mention of Zoho Corporation in a cabinet briefing.
Similarly, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan promoted the Arattai app as a “Swadeshi” alternative to WhatsApp. His post went viral, helping Arattai gain huge user attention.
Zoho’s co-founder Sridhar Vembu said, “A big release was planned for November though the app has gone viral already.” He added that the team is expanding infrastructure and fixing bugs quickly as traffic grows.
Vembu also confirmed that Zoho has turned off cloud storage to provide end-to-end encryption. He wrote on X, “We were going to roll it (end-to-end encryption) out in November and we have accelerated the schedule now.”
Zoho and Arattai’s Expanding Ecosystem
Zoho, based in Chennai, offers over 50 apps for business, finance, and operations. Its product Zoho One combines them into an integrated suite, often described as the “Operating System for Business.”
Zoho also provides email services for individuals and organizations with integrated contacts, calendars, and collaboration tools.
The company launched Arattai, meaning “casual chat” in Tamil, as a local messaging app. It lets users send messages, photos, videos, and documents, make voice and video calls, share stories, and manage channels—all while keeping user data within India.
Mappls marks another milestone in India’s journey toward digital self-reliance. With strong government backing and advanced features, it aims to compete directly with Google Maps while ensuring data security, precision, and Indian innovation.