In a move aimed at expanding digital governance and citizen service delivery, the Government of Gujarat on Monday (May 25, 2026) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Meta Platforms Inc. to introduce WhatsApp-based access to government services across the State.

The initiative, unveiled in the presence of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, is positioned as the next phase of Gujarat’s digital governance model and aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of citizen-centric administration, officials said.

Under the initiative, around 20 citizen services from five major departments will be integrated into the State’s Sugam Digital Gujarat platform and made accessible through a single WhatsApp number. The services will be available through a chatbot in Gujarati and English.

Officials said the services proposed under the platform include grievance redressal assistance, issuance of income, caste and EWS certificates, ration card updates, access to revenue records and official affidavits.

The State government said the move is intended to simplify service delivery, reduce dependency on multiple online portals and minimise the need for physical visits to government offices. The platform is also expected to strengthen real-time status tracking and improve last-mile access to public services in both urban and rural areas.

The initiative builds on Gujarat’s existing digital service ecosystem, including One Day Governance, Jan Seva Kendras and village-level service delivery mechanisms, with the government planning to gradually expand the number of services offered through WhatsApp.

The MoU was signed and exchanged by Gujarat General Administration Department Secretary Hareet Shukla along with Meta representatives Aman Jain, director and head of policies, and A. Srinivas, country director.

Among those present were Chief Secretary M. K. Das, Principal Adviser to the Chief Minister Hasmukh Adhia, Additional Chief Secretary Anju Sharma, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Sanjeev Kumar, Additional Principal Secretary Vikrant Pandey, and Secretary Ajay Kumar.