The Narendra Modi government is all set to launch a master application, which is being hailed as ‘Mother of all App’. The app, UMANG will consolidate 200+ services offered by Central, State and Local administrations under one single platform. The Modi government has invited bids from partner agencies to develop an app that will incorporates services like applying for a passport, filing income-tax returns and paying various bills or to access any other government services to just one mobile app. “Everyone is carrying a smartphone and using the internet on mobile. So we want to provide services wherever the citizens are,” an official said.

What is UMANG?

UMANG stands for Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance. The project is being developed by the union ministry of communications and information technology’s national e-governance division (NeGD).

What will UMANG do?

Some of the services which will be available under UMANG are, National scholarship, Healthcare applications, Passport Seva, Women Safety (Nirbhaya), E-Post, Crime and criminal tracking, Network and systems, Commercial tax/GST, Income tax, CBSE/State education boards, E-Municipality, IRCTC, Utility bills, Mother and child tracking, Public distribution system, Transport Vahan/Sarathi, e-Court, m-Kisan, Land records, PF/NPS. The government plans to have at least 50 service this year and gradually scale up to 200 in three years.

How will it work?

The platform will be designed in such a manner that it would be capable of maintaining or remembering citizen personal details, preferences and data required to access department services without the user having to re-enter every time. Key identification documents like Aadhar Card, PayGov and DigiLocker shall also be included within this platform.

How to access?

The government aims to make the app available to anyone using a smartphone and internet. There is also a proposal that all these services should be made available on SMS and a single toll-free number for those not having smartphone . The app can be accessed 13 languages including English.

When will UMANG be made available for public?

Even though the project has been on the pipeline for nearly eight months, the actual app is not even in its infancy. The government is still looking for a private agency which it can work together on the project. But with, the government eyeing roll out 50 services on the app this year, UMANG could be on its way sooner, than later.