After Bhim, why Modi has launched Umang app
After the success of Bhim (Bharat Interface for Money), Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (November 23) launched a new e-governance platform – Umang (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) – which promises to allow citizens to access a large number of government services using a single platform. The platform, much like Bhim, will give a boost to e-governance and also promote PM Modi's Digital India programme.
The application was announced at the fifth edition of the Global Conference on Cyberspace where Modi talked about the future of Digital India. He said: "Digital India is the world's largest programme employing technology to help citizens and improving service delivery."
From bulky mainframe computer systems, email and personal computers to social media and mobiles, technology has seen many transformations. pic.twitter.com/hNAFr1TXzy
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 23, 2017
What is Umang?
Developed by the ministry of electronics and information technology and the National e-Governance Division (NeGD), Umang is essentially an application that builds on Modi's efforts to digitise and simplify governance in the country by providing a unified approach where users can install a single application to avail multiple government services.
Apart from covering pan India e-governace services – ranging from central to local government bodies – the application also acts as an e-governance platform for other citizen-centric services such as Aadhaar and Digilocker. For example, citizens can use the application to pay utility bills, file income tax, book gas cylinders, check their provident fund accounts or make Aadhaar related queries — all using the Umang application.
How to use it
The unified platform for e-governance which provides over 100 services has been announced as a mobile application for iOS, Android devices and Windows mobile devices for now. The mobile application is compatible with devices running Android 4.4 and above and iOS 8.0 and later and comes with features such as favourites and push notification alerts to help users move to e-governance in the country.
There is also a support option available within the app to help you with your queries regarding the app or its listed services. Apart from this, Umang also provides dedicated customer support from 8am to 8pm every day.
For those who can't find the application, can also give a missed call to 97183-97183 or send an SMS to get the app download link on their number as a text message. However, for those who don't own a smartphone, the e-governance portal is also available through multiple channels like web, IVR, and SMS and can also be accessed on feature phones, tablets and even desktops.
After installing the application on any device or accessing it through any other medium, the user needs to create a profile on the platform using their phone number or Aadhaar details. The registration process on the phone includes registering with an OTP (one-time password) that will be sent to their mobile number.
Since the app stores important data and can be used for accessing state and central government services, the user is also asked to choose a couple of security questions to safeguard their Umang accounts. Once the registration is completed, the app will ask the user to set an MPIN that will be used alongside their mobile number to access the app.