Aarogya Setu app downloaded more than 3 crore times in Jio phone

Aarogya Setu app was launched for Jio Phone models last month and now as per the latest announcement the app has been downloaded by 3 crore users. This information was given by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) through a tweet on Monday. Google Play listing shows that the app has been downloaded 100 million times. Aarogya Setu was initially launched for Android and iOS devices and was recently launched on KaiOS platform for wider reach. Jio Phone and Jio Phone 2 run on KaiOS.

In early April, the government introduced the Aarogya Setu app in India to limit the spread of COVID-19. This COVID-19 tracking app uses Bluetooth and location to trace your contacts with people who are either COVID+ positive or may test positive in the near future. Since its launch, the app has been promoted by several government officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Arogya Setu had crossed the figure of 50 lakh downloads within three days of its launch and since then this figure has been increasing.

Although it was available to 50 crore smartphone users in India at the time of its launch, 40 crore basic feature phone users could not use the app. The app was launched for Jio Phones a month after its launch.

With the wide reach of the Aarogya Setu app, the government hopes to track the spread of coronavirus in India. But the reason behind the app being downloaded so fast can also be attributed to the strict rules imposed by the government. In early May, the government had made the use of the Aarogya Setu app mandatory for all public and private sector employees while announcing another extension of the lockdown to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. The rules were relaxed about two weeks later with a provision stating that “district authorities should advise people to install the Aarogya Setu app on their phones.”

Recently the app was also made mandatory for air travelers. Let us also remind you that Aarogya Setu app has also come under controversies regarding privacy and security.