In another attempt of making India Atmanirbhar
(self-reliant), union ministries and their chiefs are gearing up to give Twitter-like indigenous micro blogging app ‘Koo’ a shot and encouraging fellow Indians too. One of the first in the line
to do so is Minister of Railways Piyush Goyal.

Asking citizens to connect with him on new platform, Goyal on Tuesday took to Twitter to share the features of the app.

Meanwhile, several union ministries and departments, including National Informatics Centre (NIC), Common Services Center, Digital India, Digi Locker, India Post, National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology among others, also shared about the app.

What is Koo app?

Developed by a private corporation Bombinate Technologies Pvt Ltd and launched in 2020, Koo is a social media application, often termed as Desi Twitter for its uncanny resemblance to the US micro-blogging site.

The app is available for download on Google Play store and Apple App Store

Why is it gaining prominence in India now?

While the app has been on public domain for quite a long time now, it has started captivating attention after several Indian union ministries and public offices created their profiles on the platform.

According to PTI, 

Koo said that it has verified handles of MeitY, MyGov, Digital India, India Post, National Informatics Centre (NIC), UMANG app, Digi Locker, National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), among others, on its platform so far.

However, no clear reason as to why Indian administration is switching to the platform has been given by the ministries, a statement by Koo said that the move comes after rival app Twitter refused to comply with government’s order of blocking around 257 tweets and Twitter accounts, which were tweeting about farmer genocide, reported PTI.

According to PTI, MeitY in a strongly-worded notice to Twitter, asked the micro-blogging site to block 257 URLs (web addresses) and one hashtag within the purview of law as they were “spreading misinformation about (farmer) protests and has the potential to lead to imminent violence affecting public order situation in the country.”

The failure of an action on the direction prompted public offices to create accounts on Koo aka Desi Twitter.