What is Sandes App, India’s alternative to WhatsApp?

An Indian alternative to Whatsapp, ‘Sandes’ has been launched by National Informatics Centre. ‘Sandes’ means ‘message’ in Hindi.

It provides all the features that any instant messaging application would provide. Users can use features like voice and data.

The National Informatics Centre, a branch under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology handles the backend of the Sandes Application. NIC provides the infrastructure to support the delivery of government IT services and the delivery of some of Digital India’s initiatives.

The logo of the app bears an Ashoka Chakra inside two messaging icons in orange and green. Like WhatsApp, the users can access the app on Web, as hinted by the ‘Sandes Web’ option on the homepage of GIMS’ (Government instant messaging systems) official website. 

It is said that unlike WhatsApp, users cannot change their registered phone number or email id. If they wish to change their phone number or email id, the user will have to re-register as a new user.

‘Sandes’ is available for both iOS and Android platforms.