Tech for Beginners Part 32: Useful Government Apps: UMANG, mParivahan, Sanchar Saathi and More

Not long ago, checking your provident fund balance, verifying a second-hand car's registration or finding out how many SIM cards were issued in your name meant visiting an office or paying an agent. Today, the government offers official apps that let you do all this from your phone, for free. The challenge is knowing which apps to trust, because fake look-alike apps also exist. This is Part 32 of our Tech for Beginners series. Today we will look at some of the most useful official apps, including UMANG, mParivahan and Sanchar Saathi, what each does, how to confirm an app is genuine, and a few practical tasks you can try.

Always install apps from official stores and check the developer, as we explained in Part 5. Because some of these apps deal with SIM cards and calls, Part 7 on calls, SMS and dual SIM is a useful refresher. Fake "government scheme" apps are a common trick, described in our guide to common online scams in India.

A note on changes: government apps add and remove services, change names and redesign menus often. The services listed here were available at the time of writing; check the app for current options.

How to confirm a government app is genuine

1. Start from the official website. Most departments link to their official app from their website, which usually ends in .gov.in or .nic.in. Use that link to reach the app store page.
2. Check the developer name on the Play Store or App Store. It should be a government ministry, department or agency (for example the National e-Governance Division, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, or the Department of Telecommunications), not an individual or unknown company.
3. Look at downloads and reviews. Major government apps have millions of downloads.
4. Never install government apps from APK files sent on WhatsApp or SMS, such as "PM Kisan.apk" or "RTO Challan.apk". These are a common fraud (see Part 27).
5. Be careful with "helper" apps. Some private apps offer government information for convenience. They are not official and may collect your data. Prefer the official app.

UMANG: many services in one app

UMANG (Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance) is developed by the National e-Governance Division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. It brings services from many central and state departments into a single app.

Popular things you can do on UMANG

• EPFO services: view your provident fund passbook, check claim status and, in some cases, raise claims.
• Services related to pensions, gas cylinder booking, some tax and utility services, and various state government services, depending on what is listed at the time.
• Find links to other services such as DigiLocker.

Check your EPF passbook on UMANG

1. Install UMANG from the official store and register with your mobile number and OTP. Set a PIN.
2. Search for EPFO in the app.
3. Choose View Passbook (or Employee Centric Services, then View Passbook).
4. Enter your UAN (Universal Account Number) and tap to get an OTP. Your UAN must be activated and linked to your current mobile number.
5. Enter the OTP and choose your member ID (employer account) to see contributions and balance.

If your UAN is not activated, you can usually activate it on the EPFO member portal first. Your employer's HR team can also help. Keep your UAN noted in a safe place, as you will need it whenever you change jobs.

mParivahan: your vehicle and licence in your pocket

mParivahan is the official app of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

What it does

• Shows a virtual driving licence and virtual RC linked to your records. The ministry has advised states to accept documents shown through mParivahan or DigiLocker as valid.
• Lets you check basic details of any vehicle by its registration number, such as the model, registration date, fuel type and insurance validity, with the owner's name partly hidden.
• Gives access to some transport-related services and information. Traffic fines (challans) are usually handled through the separate eChallan system on the Parivahan website.

Practical task: check a second-hand vehicle

1. Open mParivahan and choose the RC search option.
2. Enter the vehicle's registration number exactly as on the number plate.
3. Compare the model, fuel type, registration date and insurance validity with what the seller told you.
4. If the details do not match, or the insurance has expired, ask questions before paying.

Add your driving licence and RC

1. Sign up with your mobile number and OTP.
2. Choose to add your DL or RC to your dashboard and enter the number and the details asked for verification.
3. Once added, you can show the virtual document when needed.

Sanchar Saathi: safety for your phone and SIM

Sanchar Saathi is a portal and app of the Department of Telecommunications. We used it in Part 28 for reporting. Its main services include:

• Chakshu: report suspected fraud calls, SMS and WhatsApp messages.
• Block your lost or stolen mobile: block a lost phone on all Indian networks, and unblock it if found.
• Know mobile connections in your name: see how many SIM connections are registered against your identity and report ones that are not yours.
• Know the genuineness of your handset: check a phone's IMEI before buying a second-hand phone.
• Report incoming international calls with Indian numbers: calls that show an Indian number but come from abroad, which are often fraudulent.

Practical task: check SIM cards in your name

1. Open the Sanchar Saathi app or sancharsaathi.gov.in.
2. Choose Know Mobile Connections in Your Name.
3. Enter your mobile number, the captcha and the OTP.
4. Review the list. For any number you do not recognise, choose Not my number. For old numbers you no longer use, choose Not required.

Practical task: check a second-hand phone

1. On the phone you plan to buy, dial *#06# to see its IMEI number.
2. In Sanchar Saathi, choose the option to know the genuineness of your handset and enter the IMEI.
3. Check that the result shows a valid device matching the brand and model. If it shows as blocked or invalid, do not buy it.

Other useful official apps

• DigiLocker: official digital documents (Part 31).
• Aadhaar app from UIDAI: e-Aadhaar, biometric lock and authentication history (Parts 29 and 30).
• BHIM: NPCI's UPI app (Part 22).
• Passport services: the Ministry of External Affairs offers an official app and website for passport applications and appointment status.
• Railway apps: Indian Railways offers official apps for ticket booking and train information. Check the developer before installing.
• State government apps: many states have apps for land records, certificates, electricity bills and grievances. Find them through your state's official portal.

When you need help: Common Service Centres

If you find an app confusing, or a family member does not have a smartphone, a Common Service Centre (CSC) can help. CSCs are local centres, often run by village-level entrepreneurs, that provide access to many government and business services, such as certificates, bill payments and scheme applications. They may charge a service fee for their help.

• Use only recognised CSCs or official government help desks. Ask for a receipt for any fee paid.
• Do not leave your documents, phone or OTPs with the operator. Watch what is being entered.
• Ask for the application or acknowledgement number so that you can track the request yourself later.

A starter set for your phone

If you are new to government apps, you do not need dozens. A sensible starter set for most families is:

1. DigiLocker for documents.
2. The Aadhaar app for Aadhaar services and biometric lock.
3. Sanchar Saathi for phone and SIM safety.
4. UMANG if you have an EPF account or need its listed services.
5. mParivahan if you own or drive a vehicle.

Add others only when you actually need a service, and remove those you no longer use.

Privacy tips for government apps

• Give only the permissions an app needs. A licence app does not need your contacts.
• Use a strong PIN for each app and turn on fingerprint unlock where offered.
• Do not share OTPs from these apps with anyone, even someone offering help.
• Remove apps you no longer use, and log out of apps on shared devices.

Frequently asked questions

Are these apps free?

Yes, the apps themselves are free. Some services inside them, such as certain applications or fees, may involve official charges, which are shown before you pay.

The app says my UAN or licence is not found. What should I do?

Check that you typed the number correctly and that your mobile number is linked to that record. If the problem continues, contact the department's official helpdesk listed in the app.

Is it safe to enter my Aadhaar in these apps?

In official apps from verified government developers, yes, when required. Never enter Aadhaar details in unknown apps or websites that promise scheme benefits.

What is next

Try this today: use Sanchar Saathi to check the mobile connections in your name, and check one vehicle number on mParivahan. In the next part of Tech for Beginners, we will explain cloud storage in plain words, with Google Drive, iCloud and OneDrive.