Seamless transactions

■ The government is working on integrating services from the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) into Manamitra within the next 30 days

■ So far, over 51 lakh transactions have been processed through Manamitra, benefiting more than 25 lakh citizens

■ 39 electricity-related services, 13 APSRTC services, 19 revenue department services, and 29 municipal services have been integrated

Metro India News | AMARAVATI

Andhra Pradesh's Minister for Education, IT, and Electronics, Nara Lokesh, has announced an ambitious plan to deliver 500 government services through WhatsApp via the Manamitra platform by June 30, 2025. Speaking during a legislative discussion on WhatsApp governance, Lokesh highlighted the state's continuous efforts to integrate technology into administration, ensuring transparency and efficiency.

Manamitra is designed to provide government services seamlessly, eliminating the need for physical visits to government offices. The platform aims to ensure governance is equally accessible to all, regardless of economic status. Currently, 200 services are available through Manamitra, with plans to expand to 300 services by the end of this month.

Referring to global benchmarks, Lokesh noted that Estonia has set an example in digital governance, while Singapore’s Smart Nation Initiative and the UAE’s WhatsApp-based public services have influenced Andhra Pradesh’s approach. The integration of AI-powered services into Manamitra is expected to enhance efficiency and responsiveness.

The state government plans to introduce AI-powered chatbots and voice-enabled services within the next 100 days. The integration with Meta, initiated on September 19, 2024, and formalized through an MoU on October 22, 2024, aims to refine the platform further. Manamitra currently offers services such as revenue certificate applications, property tax payments, and grievance redressal. Future enhancements will include AI-driven automation for instant government service delivery.

A key upcoming reform is the issuance of permanent digital certificates, eliminating the need for repeated visits to government offices. QR code-enabled documents will prevent tampering and ensure authenticity. The initiative also aims to reduce government expenditure on security paper and streamline document verification processes.

Manamitra will integrate payment services into a unified platform, enabling seamless transactions. AI chatbots will facilitate bookings for bus tickets and other essential services via voice commands, further simplifying access to government services.

Addressing concerns over data security, Lokesh emphasized that Manamitra does not store personal data but operates through encrypted communication. Aadhaar-based authentication is conducted via UIDAI, ensuring privacy and security. The government is also exploring facial recognition authentication to enhance security.

The upcoming Manamitra 2.0, powered by AI, aims to deliver services within 10 seconds, leveraging integrated databases and Aadhaar seeding. The government will conduct large-scale awareness campaigns to educate citizens on this revolutionary platform.

Since its launch, Manamitra has facilitated over 1.23 crore transactions, with 41.4% of these occurring through WhatsApp-based services. The success of the initiative has attracted interest from other states, with Maharashtra recently signing an MoU with Meta to implement similar services.