The Government of Andhra Pradesh has taken a pioneering step in digital governance with the launch of Mana Mitra, India’s first comprehensive WhatsApp-based governance platform. Officially unveiled on January 30, 2025, Mana Mitra aims to bring over 500 government services directly to citizens’ mobile phones, transforming how people access public services and interact with the state.
The journey began with an MoU between the Andhra Pradesh government and Meta India, WhatsApp’s parent company, on October 22, 2024. Within three months, the platform was launched with 161 services, expanding to 200 by March 2025. By June 2025, the goal is to integrate 500 services spanning 36 departments, making it the most ambitious mobile-first e-governance initiative in India.
Among the departments already connected are Revenue, Education, Transport, Energy, Municipal Administration, Endowments, and Anna Canteens. Citizens can now obtain income and caste certificates, pay property and electricity bills, book temple services, reserve bus tickets, and even apply for the CM Relief Fund—all through a simple WhatsApp message to 95523 00009.
Mana Mitra is designed to be user-friendly, making government services just a few taps away. Citizens can avail themselves of services in the following way:
This simple workflow makes even complex tasks—like ration card changes or Aadhaar updates—possible without visiting government offices.
Mana Mitra functions as a single-window platform, offering real-time service delivery. Certificates and documents are issued digitally and secured with QR codes to ensure authenticity. Designed with inclusivity in mind, the platform supports multiple languages in line with the Digital India Bhashini initiative, ensuring accessibility across both urban and rural populations.
Upcoming upgrades will further enhance the experience:
Within two months of launch, Mana Mitra recorded 5.1 million transactions and served more than 2.5 million citizens. Its success is already inspiring states like Odisha and Maharashtra to plan similar WhatsApp governance models. Beyond convenience, the platform also supports work-from-home options for government employees, reflecting a new flexibility in public administration.
By leveraging India’s most widely used messaging app, the Andhra Pradesh government has broken down barriers to digital access, making governance more inclusive, efficient, and transparent. However, challenges remain: concerns over data privacy, the digital divide, and reliance on a single private platform highlight the need for robust safeguards and parallel access channels.
More than just a technological innovation, Mana Mitra represents a paradigm shift in governance. It blends accessibility, security, and advanced technology into a citizen-first model of service delivery. As Meta continues to support its evolution and AI-driven features roll out, Mana Mitra could serve as a national blueprint for WhatsApp-based governance, aligning seamlessly with the goals of Digital India and the IndiaAI Mission.
By embedding governance into a familiar platform like WhatsApp, Andhra Pradesh has not only redefined public service delivery but also set the stage for a more transparent, citizen-centric, and digitally inclusive future.