Google to launch contest for PM Modi’s ‘MyGov’ initiative

Online search giant Google will help MyGov, the online citizen engagement platform that is part of the Narendra Modi government's new initiatives.

Google announced in a statement from Delhi on Monday that it will launch a nationwide contest to build a mobile app for the Prime Minister's Office.

''Google will partner MyGov in this contest to build the PMO mobile app. The contest will launch tomorrow (Tuesday) at 5 pm on MyGov.in,'' the statement said.

The contest will be held across the country at different institutions and colleges and will invite participation from people throughout India.

Speaking at a Nasscon event on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi said he was planning to invite ideas from the public for developing a mobile app for his office.

''We are very excited to be a part of the Prime Minister's vision and would urge every Indian to come forward and participate in the app development contest and become a cohesive part of governance and decision making in the country,'' said Rajan Anandan, vice president and managing director, Google India & South-East Asia.

''To realise the government's Digital India vision, we are collaborating with MyGov to develop a mobile app for the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) through a contest. With this we wish to support the Government's agenda and provide every citizen access to the PM's office through a mobile device,'' added Chetan Krishnaswamy, country head - public policy at Google India.

''Through the PMO app contest we wish to use technology effectively to encourage innovation, aspiration and enhance connectivity. We want to provide every citizen access to the PMO through a mobile device,'' Gaurav Dwivedi, chief executive officer, MyGov said.

''And since this is an app for the people, we are inviting people to submit ideas on the features they would like to see in their PMO's mobile app,'' he added.