**Executive Summary**
This document answers questions raised in the Lok Sabha regarding the Government's agreement with Zoho for migrating Central Government email services. The agreement, initiated in 2023, mandates the use of Zoho, through the NIC, as a cloud-based email solution for all Government users. Key dates mentioned include the completion of security audits, with the latest scheduled for August 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Agreement Details:**
* The Government entered an agreement in 2023 with Zoho Corporation to migrate Central Government email services to Zoho's cloud platform.
* The National Informatics Centre (NIC) selected Zoho as a Master System Integrator (MSI) for this initiative.
* **Selection Process and Compliance:**
* The selection was done through Government e-Marketplace (GeM) bidding process with a Proof of Concept (PoC).
* The project complies with the "Make in India" initiative.
* The government retains full ownership of all data and intellectual property generated under the contract.
* **User Migration and Feedback:**
* Approximately 12.68 Lakhs user accounts of Ministries and Departments have been migrated so far.
* Online feedback was collected from users after the service went live on the Zoho platform.
* **Security Measures:**
* Comprehensive security audits have been undertaken.
* Completed: Comprehensive security audit by STQC, MeitY in May 2024.
* Scheduled: Second full security audit by C-DAC, MeitY in August 2025.
* **Data Sovereignty:**
* The contract ensures strict adherence to data sovereignty.
* All data centers, including primary and disaster recovery, are physically located within India.
* No data can be shared or replicated outside India.
* **Service Provider Details:**
* The Service Provider, M/s Zoho, is a registered Indian entity subject to Indian laws and jurisdiction.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government Ministries and Departments**
* **Impact**
* The Ministries and Departments are using a new email platform for official communication.
* The platform ensures better security and data sovereignty.
* **Action Required**
* Continue to use the Zoho platform for official email communication, ensuring compliance with the new policies.
**Government Employees**
* **Impact**
* Government employees have access to a unified collaboration suite developed in India.
* **Action Required**
* Adapt to the new email platform and utilize its features for improved productivity and collaboration.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology: The primary government body responsible for the email services migration.
National Informatics Centre (NIC): The organization responsible for providing email services to the government and selecting Zoho.
Zoho Corporation: The cloud platform selected for the migration of Central Government email services.
Government e-Marketplace (GeM): The online platform used for the bidding process to select Zoho.
Make in India: Referenced policy that project aims to align with.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1803
TO BE ANSWERED ON: 10.12.2025
AGREEMENT WITH ZOHO
1803. MR PATHAN YUSUF:
Will the Minister of ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government entered into an agreement in 2023 for migration of Central Government email
services, including Ministry and Departmental accounts, to Zoho Corporation’s cloud platform, if so, the details
of the tender process, comparative evaluation of bids and the number of user accounts migrated so far;
(b) the number of audit and security-compliance assessments, including those by CERT-In and NIC, completed
prior to migration; and
(c) whether the Government proposes to disclose hosting locations, data sovereignty provisions and continuity-
of-service safeguards in the vendor contract, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR ELECTRONICS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI JITIN PRASADA)
(a) to (c) : The Government recognises the critical importance of having a robust, sovereign and secure official
email system for its Ministries and Departments. Accordingly, the Government mandates that only email services
provided by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) shall be used for official communication.
To ensure this, the government through NIC has selected a Master System Integrator (MSI) – M/s Zoho as a robust
cloud-based email solution capable of supporting all Government users.
The model ensures professional upgrades, seamless migration of existing accounts, and integration of modern
office productivity tools such as word processors, spreadsheets, and presentation software.
It provides government employees with an access to a unified collaboration suite developed in India. The number
of user accounts of Ministries and Departments migrated so far are around 12.68 Lakhs.
The selection was carried out through the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) bidding process, which included a
Proof of Concept (PoC) with shortlisted bidders and designated groups of government users.
The project emphasises “Make in India” compliance and ensures that the Government retains full ownership of
all data and intellectual property generated under the contract.
After the email service went live on the new Zoho platform, online feedback was collected from users across
various Ministries and Departments.
Robust security evaluations have been undertaken to ensure safe migration and deployment:
• Comprehensive security audit by Standardisation Testing and Quality Certification (STQC), MeitY in
May 2024
• Second full security audit by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), MeitY in
August 2025The contract with the service provider ensures strict adherence to data sovereignty. The cloud-based solution,
including Primary and Disaster Recovery data centers, are physically located within India, and no data can be
shared or replicated outside the country.
The Service Provider – M/s Zoho is a registered Indian entity subject to Indian laws and jurisdiction.
******