the "Super app" India 🇮🇳 truly needs
India 🇮🇳 has always been a bit slow when it comes to bringing big tech into everyday government systems, but the people of this country — that’s a totally different story. We’ve always been quick to catch on to new technology. Take the internet and social media, for example. The adoption rate was insane! Affordable smartphones and, of course, Jio’s free internet offer back in 2016 were game changers. That move shocked not just Indian competitors but the whole world. Almost every household had at least one Jio SIM — that’s how huge the impact was.
After that telecom boom, tech companies saw an opportunity. They launched affordable smartphones and a flood of new apps that made online communication and collaboration way easier. The cheaper the access, the more time people spent online. Right around that time came another big moment — demonetisation. It completely reshaped how people made payments. The government’s BHIM app was a simple yet brilliant start. It was lightweight, straightforward, and introduced many people to digital payments. Soon, other startups jumped in, building their own UPI-based apps, and the digital payment ecosystem exploded.
Now here’s the main point — when new-age tech becomes widely available, it gives everyone, from startups to governments, the freedom to build new apps. And that’s exactly what happened in India. Every state government started launching its own apps and websites for citizens — one for electricity, one for gas, one for transport, one for industries, and so on. After the app boom, each of these services even got separate mobile apps. And the funny part? Every time a new government comes into power, a few months later new versions of old apps suddenly appear — same function, new design, and, of course, a fresh Chief Minister photo on the home screen!
But here’s where things haven’t evolved — no one, whether from the central or state government, has tried to combine all these services into a single app — a true “super app.” And I’m not just talking about government services. Imagine one app where you can handle everything — from booking cabs and flights to ordering food and medicines. Some tech giants like Paytm and Tata Neu have tried, but none have fully nailed it yet. On top of that, we keep reading headlines about states shutting down or banning private ride-sharing apps like Ola, Uber, or Rapido due to local protests. Some states even announce their own versions of ride-sharing apps to calm the situation, but these are short-term fixes.
Now think about it from a regular user’s perspective — should we really have to install a new app every time we enter a new state? That just makes no sense. One reason Uber works globally is because you can land in any city in the world, open the same app, and it just works. Why can’t we have the same convenience here in India? We already have Aadhaar — a universal digital ID that can easily plug into such a system. Imagine a single app for everything you need:
Booking your gas cylinder
Paying your electricity bill
Recharging your phone
Ordering food or medicines
Booking your next flight or train
Using the metro or local buses
In short, one app to do it all — anywhere in India. It should come with a built-in digital locker to store information safely and a wallet for quick payments. Apps like Paytm, PhonePe, CRED, Tata Neu, or even Ola already have the right foundation. The question is, who’s brave enough to take the leap?
Last year, I visited Malaysia 🇲🇾 to meet a friend, and trust me, I was blown away by their Grab app. It handled everything — rides, deliveries, food, payments — all in one place. For someone just visiting the country, I didn’t need to ask anyone for help. Everything was smooth and easy. When I came back to India, I kept thinking — why don’t we have something like this yet? Sadly, even now, we haven’t seen a concrete step in that direction.
Couple of Grab app screenshots are below :
Building such a super app isn’t just the job of tech companies. The central and state governments need to work together too. They should look beyond politics and focus on long-term impact. Once such a system exists, things like revenue-sharing or small service charges will work themselves out. What matters most is creating a unified digital experience that makes every citizen’s life simpler, faster, and more connected.