Sandes (software)

Last updated

Sandes
Developer
Initial releaseAugust 2020;5 years ago (2020-08)
Stable release(s)
2.4.20 / June 11, 2025 (2025-06-11)
Written in
Flutter (client)

Java (server)

Operating system
Android 5 or above

iOS 12 or above Web browsers

Size
34 MB (Android)

75 MB (iOS)

Type
License Freeware
Website sandes.gov.in

Sandes is an Indian state-owned freeware instant messaging platform developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC) under the Government of India. It operates on Android, iOS, and web browsers. [1] The platform is hosted exclusively on government-owned cloud infrastructure and follows the data governance policies of the Government of India. [2] [3]

Contents

Sandes offers instant messaging, VoIP, file sharing, and integration with several government digital services such as DigiLocker and e-Office. Initially available only to government employees, the app was later opened to the public. Full functionality remains available only to verified users. [4]

History

In 2019, the Government of India launched a project to build a secure instant messaging system known as the Government Instant Messaging System (GIMS) under the Make in India initiative. The platform was designed to provide a secure channel for government communication and reduce dependence on foreign-owned services. Testing began in mid-September 2019, with about 6,600 officials from various departments exchanging nearly two million messages during the pilot phase. In February 2021, the client was rebranded as Sandes and released publicly in limited form. [5] [6] [7]

The Delhi Police adopted Sandes for secure coordination during the G20 Summit in 2024, using it to communicate route and security information among officers. [8] In January 2024, India’s paramilitary forces—including the CISF, CRPF, ITBP, and SSB—switched to Sandes for official communications and document sharing, replacing WhatsApp. [9]

In July 2024, the Government of Maharashtra mandated the use of Sandes for all official communications across state departments to enhance data security and ensure traceability of government communication. [10]

Recent developments

In June 2025, Sandes version 2.4.20 was released for iOS, introducing performance improvements such as faster chat loading, enhanced contact search, a redesigned document preview, and a privacy-focused UI blur in the app switcher. [11] During 2025, the National Informatics Centre migrated Sandes’ backend to a new NIC Cloud cluster in Delhi to improve reliability, scalability, and data localization. [12] The app’s user interface was updated to include dark mode and accessibility enhancements.

According to the NIC e-Governance Annual Report 2025, Sandes recorded more than 2.3 million verified users across central and state government departments. [13]

Features

Sandes supports end-to-end encrypted one-to-one and group messaging, as well as encrypted voice and video calls. Messaging features include forwarding, email forwarding, broadcast lists, chat backup, text customization, and tagging. The tagging feature allows messages to be marked as Confidential, Priority, or Auto Delete. Messages marked as Auto Delete are automatically removed after being read. Sandes integrates with government digital services such as NIC email, DigiLocker, and eOffice, allowing users to access official data without leaving the app. [14] [15]

Limitations

A valid mobile number is required for registration. Public users are limited to one-to-one chat. Official groups can contain up to 200 members, while casual groups are limited to 50. Broadcast lists can include up to ten contacts. Supported file types include documents (doc, docx, xls, xlsx, ppt, pptx, pdf), images (jpeg, jpg, png), audio (mp3, m4a), and video (mp4), with a maximum size limit of 15 MB per file. [16]

Reception

Technology analysts have described Sandes as a secure, government-backed alternative to private messaging platforms, emphasizing data localization and sovereign control of information. [17] While praised for integration with government systems and its security framework, early reviewers noted limited usability, slower verification, and smaller group capacities compared to commercial alternatives. [18]

See also

References

  1. "Sandes Portal, Government Instant Messaging System, Government of India". Government of India. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  2. "Sandes – Google Play". Google Play. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  3. "Sandes – App Store". Apple App Store. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  4. "Sandes Privacy Policy". Government of India. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
  5. Verma, Shubham. "Indian government reportedly building its own WhatsApp-like chat app: Everything you should know". India Today. Retrieved 19 February 2021.
  6. "Government testing GIMS, its secure messaging app". The Indian Express. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  7. "Sandes app: Better WhatsApp alternative? What about user data? We answer your questions". The Indian Express. 19 February 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  8. Manral, Mahender Singh (5 September 2023). "Now, all Delhi Police communication on G20 will be on Sandes app". The Indian Express. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  9. "Paramilitary forces to switch to 'Sandes App' for official communication, document sharing". The Times of India. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  10. Deshpande, Alok (28 July 2024). "Maharashtra govt mandates Sandes app for all official communications". The Indian Express. Retrieved 14 December 2024.
  11. "Sandes on the App Store". Apple Inc. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  12. "NIC Cloud Infrastructure Bulletin – Q1 2025". National Informatics Centre. April 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  13. "NIC e-Governance Annual Report 2025". National Informatics Centre. July 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  14. Sandes Quick Reference Guide – Android (PDF).{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  15. Sandes Quick Reference Guide – iOS (PDF).{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  16. Sandes FAQ v2.0 (PDF).{{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  17. "Sandes gains traction as secure messaging tool for official use". The Hindu Business Line. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.{{cite news}}: More than one of |work= and |website= specified (help)
  18. "Sandes app review: A secure but restrained Indian alternative". The Indian Express. 15 February 2024. Retrieved 10 October 2025.{{cite news}}: More than one of |work= and |website= specified (help)