[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A single app to avail a host of government services – from scholarships, provident fund claims and passport application to pensions – the ‘UMANG’, or Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance was launched by PM Narendra Modi on Thursday.
Announced in 2016 and scheduled to be launched in December last year, the mobile application promised by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology was delayed due to numerous beta tests conducted over the course of one year.
The UMANG app aims to provide Indian citizens access to the pan India e-Gov services, including the central, state, local bodies, and agencies of government on app, web, SMS, as well as IVR channels.
The app, available for both Android and iOS devices would give users access to most of the government services. The services range from citizen services like Aadhaar and Digilocker on a mobile app, from paying utility bills to filing income tax, booking gas cylinders to accessing Provident fund accounts.
Altogether it provides more than 100 services of the centre and state government on a single platform. Users will be able to access the app in 12 different languages.
The app is free of cost and is available for download on Google Play store, Apple App store and even on the Windows store. The app has a dedicated customer support service working from 8 AM to 8 PM per day.
In case you could not search for the application, you can give a missed call or SMS to ‘9718397183’ to receive a download link. Once the app is downloaded, you will be needed to fill in your details like name, mobile number, and more. You can also link your Aadhaar Card number with the Umang app. Users also have the option of linking the account with social media profiles like Facebook and Twitter.
Once you are logged in, users have to go to the Services section to browse through them. You can also search, sort, and filter through the list and find the exact service you are looking for.
It has been developed by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and National e-Governance Division (NeGD)
UMANG app and Aadhaar integration: This government app gives users the option of choosing from pan India e-Gov services, reported the Financial Express.
When you download UMANG app, it asks you to link your Aadhaar with the app. Currently, this is optional and you can use UMANG app without seeding in your Aadhaar in it, said a Business Today report.
It is likely to incentivise citizens to link their Aadhaar numbers for the all the services voluntarily, something which many have been resisting due to privacy concerns.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]