In a strong boost to India’s digital self-reliance efforts, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has endorsed Mappls, an Indian-made navigation app developed by MapmyIndia, positioning it as a powerful indigenous alternative to Google Maps. The move aligns with the government’s “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative and highlights the growing capabilities of India’s homegrown technology ecosystem.
Following Vaishnaw’s endorsement, Mappls witnessed an extraordinary surge in popularity. The app quickly climbed to the #2 position on the Apple App Store (just behind Google Maps) and crossed 1 crore downloads on Google Play. Within two weeks, daily downloads increased tenfold. The momentum continues as Indian Railways prepares to sign an MoU with Mappls to integrate its mapping services into railway systems.
What Sets Mappls Apart
Mappls offers a range of India-specific features that make it particularly suited for local navigation:
- 3D junction views for safer and clearer route decisions.
- Traffic signal countdowns in supported cities.
- Indoor navigation for malls, airports, and major buildings.
- Real-time alerts for speed breakers, accident zones, and sharp turns.
- Support for 12+ Indian languages, promoting accessibility.
- The unique Mappls PIN system for highly accurate location tagging.
Industry Response and Market Impact
The Indian tech community has rallied behind the app. Zoho co-founder Sridhar Vembu lauded Mappls as the result of “decades of R&D.” Meanwhile, investors responded positively — the parent company CE Info Systems Ltd. saw its stock rise by 8% following the announcement.
Mappls is also advocating for its pre-installation on smartphones manufactured under the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which could significantly expand its reach among Indian users.
By championing Mappls, India is taking another confident step toward digital sovereignty, promoting indigenous innovation, and empowering citizens with homegrown, privacy-focused technology solutions.
