In a strong endorsement of India’s growing technological capabilities, Zoho CEO Sridhar Vembu and Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have praised MapmyIndia’s Mappls app as a powerful example of India’s homegrown innovation in mapping technology. Both leaders highlighted how Mappls reflects decades of indigenous research and development, positioning it as a credible and advanced alternative to global platforms such as Google Maps.
Sridhar Vembu, known for his consistent advocacy of local technology ecosystems, lauded MapmyIndia’s sustained R&D efforts, noting that the company’s work predates Google Maps and has evolved through years of refinement. “Mappls reflects decades of R&D and innovation, built right here in India,” Vembu said on social media, emphasizing the app’s accuracy, user experience, and commitment to data sovereignty.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw echoed Vembu’s sentiment, describing the success of MapmyIndia and its Mappls platform as a milestone in India’s digital self-reliance journey. He stated that the platform’s achievements demonstrate the strength of the country’s engineering talent and the potential for indigenous enterprises to compete globally in critical technology segments like geospatial intelligence.
The endorsements come at a time when India is strengthening its push for digital sovereignty and localization of data ecosystems, encouraging the use of domestic platforms across key sectors such as mobility, logistics, and governance. MapmyIndia, established in 1995 by Rakesh and Rashmi Verma, has played a pioneering role in building India’s digital mapping infrastructure long before the arrival of global giants in the space.
The company’s flagship app, Mappls, integrates detailed navigation features, real-time traffic updates, and location-based analytics. Unlike global competitors that rely heavily on advertising and user data monetization, Mappls emphasizes privacy-first navigation by ensuring that user data is not shared with advertisers or foreign entities. This positioning aligns closely with India’s data protection and privacy framework, which has become increasingly critical under the Digital Personal Data Protection Act (DPDPA) 2023.
Industry experts believe this renewed attention toward indigenous digital tools reflects a broader trend in India’s technology narrative—one that emphasizes Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) in the digital economy. The success of platforms like Mappls not only showcases Indian innovation but also challenges the long-held dominance of global tech platforms in navigation and location-based services.
Vembu’s support carries particular weight in the Indian tech community, given his own track record of building Zoho as one of the world’s leading software product companies from rural Tamil Nadu. His endorsement of Mappls reinforces the growing collaborative ethos among Indian tech leaders who are advocating for a more sustainable, locally built digital ecosystem.
In his statement, Vembu also pointed out that while global companies often have access to greater financial resources, Indian startups compensate with ingenuity, persistence, and contextual relevance. “Our products may not always have the same marketing budgets as global firms, but we understand India’s needs better,” he said, applauding MapmyIndia’s long-term commitment to innovation.
Ashwini Vaishnaw further added that the government’s support for local innovators through initiatives like Digital India, Make in India, and India AI Mission is enabling startups to scale faster. He highlighted how India’s new digital mapping policy has made it easier for domestic players to collect, analyze, and share spatial data without restrictive foreign regulations.
MapmyIndia’s recent technological advancements include AI-powered map visualizations, voice-based navigation in regional languages, and integration with autonomous driving and electric vehicle (EV) ecosystems. The platform’s enterprise solutions are already being used across sectors such as logistics, agriculture, telecom, and smart city management.
According to the company, Mappls currently offers over 400 million geospatial data points, including hyperlocal mapping of roads, landmarks, and addresses. Its RealView technology, which captures 3D and panoramic street imagery, has further enhanced the depth and accuracy of its navigation experience.
CEO and co-founder Rohan Verma has previously stated that the company’s mission is to make India’s digital infrastructure as independent and world-class as its global counterparts. “We want to empower every Indian with access to precise, privacy-respecting location technology,” he said in a recent statement, underscoring the company’s vision to expand across both consumer and enterprise segments.
Analysts say the recent public endorsement by major Indian tech figures and policymakers could serve as a catalyst for broader adoption of Mappls, particularly among government agencies, logistics firms, and developers looking for alternatives to Google Maps APIs. The company’s focus on local mapping accuracy gives it an edge in areas such as rural India, where global mapping services often lack detailed coverage.
As India continues to invest in its AI and data ecosystem, platforms like Mappls stand to benefit from synergies with emerging technologies such as generative AI, IoT, and predictive analytics. Experts predict that the integration of AI-driven mapping will transform mobility, city planning, and infrastructure management across the country.
With India positioning itself as a major global AI and tech hub, the rise of indigenous platforms like MapmyIndia’s Mappls signals a new chapter in the country’s digital independence movement. By combining innovation, local insight, and data integrity, Mappls exemplifies how Indian enterprises are ready to shape the next generation of technology solutions—not just for India, but for the world.