Using Zoho Office Suite now must for Education Ministry officials

**Education Ministry Mandates Use of Zoho Office Suite for All Official Work**

*By Dwaipayan Roy | Oct 04, 2025, 6:21 PM*

In a significant stride towards digital self-reliance, the Ministry of Education has issued a directive requiring all its officials to use the Zoho Office Suite for managing official documents. This initiative aligns with Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s recent endorsement of Zoho’s messaging app, Arattai, and supports the government’s broader vision of promoting indigenous digital products.

### Embracing Atmanirbhar Bharat through Zoho

The decision reflects the government’s commitment to the Atmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) campaign by reducing dependence on foreign software solutions. By adopting Zoho’s homegrown office productivity tools, the Ministry aims to strengthen India’s digital sovereignty and foster the growth of domestic technology companies.

### A Bold Step in the Swadeshi Movement

According to an official memorandum from the Department of Higher Education, this move represents a “bold step in the Swadeshi movement.” The circular emphasizes that embracing Zoho not only supports the nation’s self-reliance goals but also positions India more competitively in the global digital economy. The transition is seen as a critical shift from a service-based economy toward becoming a product-oriented nation.

### What is Zoho Office Suite?

Zoho Office Suite is an integrated online platform developed by Zoho Corporation, offering a comprehensive set of tools including Zoho Writer for documents, Zoho Sheet for spreadsheets, and Zoho Show for presentations. The Ministry has instructed all officers and staff to create, edit, and share official documents exclusively via this platform, integrated seamlessly with NIC (National Informatics Centre) mail.

### Training and Support for Smooth Adoption

To ensure a smooth transition, the circular advises all officials to familiarize themselves with Zoho’s collaborative features. For any technical assistance or onboarding support, staff are encouraged to reach out to the CMIS/NIC division.

The integration of Zoho Office Suite within the NIC mail ecosystem is designed to deliver a secure, user-friendly, and collaborative environment across government departments — marking a milestone in the digital transformation of India’s education sector.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/business/indian-government-going-all-in-on-zoho-s-tools/story

‘Dependence mustn’t turn into compulsion’: RSS chief amid US tariffs

**‘Dependence mustn’t turn into compulsion’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on US Tariffs**

*By Chanshimla Varah | Oct 02, 2025, 10:46 AM*

At the Vijayadashami event in Nagpur, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat addressed the recent tariff policy imposed by the United States on Indian goods. He stated that the US’s move was primarily “done keeping in mind the interest of their own.”

Bhagwat emphasized the reality of global interdependence but cautioned that it should never turn into compulsion. He urged India to focus on *swadeshi* (self-reliance) as the only viable path forward. “Our harmony must be our own,” he remarked, underlining the importance of national self-sufficiency.

**Regional Stability: Concerns Over Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh**

The RSS chief also commented on the recent unrest in neighboring countries such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh. He warned that such violent disturbances could invite foreign interference and lead to chaos.

“Violent uprisings only lead to anarchy,” Bhagwat said, adding that forces intent on creating disorder in Bharat are active both inside and outside the country. He distinguished between democratic movements, which bring change, and violent revolts, which do not. Reflecting on history, he noted, “France rose against its king and Napoleon became emperor. So many so-called socialist movements happened; all these socialist countries are now capitalist.”

**National Harmony: Response to the Recent Attack in Pahalgam**

Addressing India’s rich diversity, Mohan Bhagwat stressed the need to embrace differences within the framework of law. He condemned actions that provoke communities and called for fair administration.

“The administration must act fairly, but the youth must also stay alert and intervene if needed. The grammar of anarchy needs to be stopped,” he asserted. He further emphasized that an “us” versus “them” mentality is unacceptable in a united India.

**Economic Focus: Supporting Swadeshi and Prime Minister Modi’s Push for Local Products**

The call for self-reliance echoes Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent appeals encouraging Indians to buy products made in India. Modi highlighted the importance of recognizing and supporting locally crafted goods produced through the hard work of the country’s youth.

“Often, we don’t even know if the comb in our pocket is made in India or abroad. We should buy products that are Made in India, crafted through the hard work of our country’s sons and daughters,” Modi said in one of his speeches.

As India navigates international economic challenges and regional uncertainties, leaders continue to stress the importance of self-reliance, national harmony, and democratic change driven by peaceful means.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/dependence-mustn-t-turn-into-compulsion-rss-chief-amid-us-tariffs/story

‘Dependence mustn’t turn into compulsion’: RSS chief amid US tariffs

**‘Dependence Mustn’t Turn into Compulsion’: RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat on US Tariffs**

*By Chanshimla Varah | October 2, 2025*

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has responded to the recent tariff policies imposed by the United States on Indian goods. Speaking at the Vijayadashami event in Nagpur, Bhagwat remarked that the US tariff measures are primarily designed to safeguard their own national interests.

He emphasized the reality of global interdependence but cautioned that such reliance should never amount to compulsion. “We must move towards swadeshi and self-reliance; there is no alternative. Our harmony must be our own,” he stated.

**Regional Stability: Concerns Over Neighboring Countries**

Addressing recent unrest in neighboring nations such as Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, Bhagwat warned that such disturbances could invite foreign interference. He stressed that violent uprisings only lead to anarchy and instability.

“Those who seek to create disturbances in Bharat are active both inside and outside our country,” he said. Highlighting the distinction between democratic movements and violent revolts, Bhagwat recalled historical examples: “Democratic movements bring change; violent uprisings don’t. France rose against its king and Napoleon became emperor. So many so-called socialist movements happened, and all these socialist countries are now capitalist.”

**National Harmony: Embracing Diversity and Fair Administration**

Speaking on India’s diverse social fabric, the RSS chief underlined the importance of embracing differences within the bounds of law. He condemned acts that provoke communal tensions and urged for fair and impartial administration.

“The administration must act fairly, but the youth must also stay alert and intervene if needed. The grammar of anarchy needs to be stopped,” he added, condemning the ‘us vs them’ mentality as unacceptable.

**Economic Focus: The Drive Towards ‘Make in India’**

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent calls to promote swadeshi products and self-sufficiency align with Bhagwat’s message. Modi has urged Indians to reduce dependency on foreign-made goods and consciously choose products made in India.

“Often, we don’t even know if the comb in our pocket is made in India or abroad. We should buy products that are made in India, crafted through the hard work of our country’s youth—products that carry the sweat of our sons and daughters,” the Prime Minister said in one of his speeches.

The emphasis on self-reliance and indigenous production by both the RSS chief and the Prime Minister underscores a growing national narrative that advocates economic independence and cultural harmony amid global challenges.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/india/dependence-mustn-t-turn-into-compulsion-rss-chief-amid-us-tariffs/story

PM Modi : AK-203 rifles production starts soon in UP, strengthens Make In India

“Our armed forces aspire to achieve self-reliance and minimise dependence on external sources. To this end, we are dedicated to developing a robust defence infrastructure within India, with a strong emphasis on ensuring that every component is proudly ‘Made in India’,” said Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He added that to support this vision, a thriving ecosystem is being fostered, with Uttar Pradesh playing a pivotal role in this initiative. In line with these efforts, the production of AK-203 rifles will soon commence in a factory established with assistance from Russia.

A Defence Corridor is also being developed in Uttar Pradesh, where manufacturing of BrahMos missiles and other weapon systems has already begun, the Prime Minister noted.

The trade show, held under the theme “Ultimate Sourcing Begins Here,” is scheduled from September 25 to 29. It has three core objectives: innovation, integration, and internationalisation. A three-pronged buyer strategy is targeting international buyers, domestic Business-to-Business (B2B) buyers, and domestic Business-to-Consumer (B2C) buyers, providing opportunities for exporters, small businesses, and consumers alike.

UPITS-2025 highlights the state’s diverse craft traditions, modern industries, robust MSMEs, and emerging entrepreneurs, all showcased on a single platform.

PM Modi also highlighted the benefits of the GST reforms, stating that ordinary families will see significant monthly savings. He criticised Congress over its criticism of the GST reform campaign, saying, “To hide their pre-2014 failures, Congress and its allies are lying to the people. We have increased the income and savings of the people of India. We are not going to stop here. As we continue to strengthen our economy, we will continue to reduce taxes. The process of GST reforms will go on continuously.”

In response, Congress pointed out that Narendra Modi had opposed the GST taxation model when he was Chief Minister of Gujarat. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh remarked, “From 2006-2014, for eight years, only one CM opposed the GST, and that CM became the Prime Minister in 2014 and took a U-turn and emerged as a messiah of GST in 2017.”

The BJP responded by saying that the Congress-led government’s rule was marked by “only talks and no work,” accusing the party of resorting to “lies.”

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https://www.mid-day.com/news/india-news/article/pm-modi–ak203-rifles-production-to-start-in-uttar-pradesh-boosting-make-in-india-defence-drive-23595747