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Indian Ministers Promote Homegrown Alternatives to Google, Microsoft Amid Rising U.S. Trade Tensions

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Three senior ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet are urging Indians to adopt domestic alternatives to U.S. tech giants like Google, Microsoft, and Meta, marking the strongest government endorsement yet of “Made in India” technology amid escalating trade frictions with the United States.

The push follows Washington’s decision in August to impose 50% tariffs on Indian imports, a move that has fueled nationalist calls for economic self-reliance. Modi has since urged citizens to replace daily-use foreign products with “swadeshi” (indigenous) alternatives, aligning the campaign with his broader vision of digital sovereignty.

This week, Information Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw showcased highway project plans using Zoho software—an Indian rival to Microsoft PowerPoint—and MapmyIndia, instead of Google Maps. “The map is from MapmyIndia, not Google Maps,” he said, smiling. “It’s looking nice, right? Swadeshi.”

Vaishnaw’s social media video testing Zoho’s software attracted 6.2 million views on X, urging users to support Indian digital tools. Similarly, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have promoted Zoho’s messaging app Arattai (“chat” in Tamil), calling it a symbol of India’s technological independence. Goyal posted on X, “So proud to be on @Arattai, a #MadeInIndia messaging platform that brings India closer.”

The campaign appears to be paying off: according to Sensor Tower, Arattai downloads surged from under 10,000 in August to over 400,000 in September, with daily active users doubling to 100,000 by September 26.

Still, experts caution that displacing entrenched global brands such as WhatsApp, Google Maps, and Microsoft Office will be difficult. India remains WhatsApp’s largest market, with more than 500 million users, and U.S. platforms dominate both consumer and enterprise software ecosystems.

Dilip Cherian, co-founder of Perfect Relations, warned that “only state patronage will not be enough.” For Indian challengers like Zoho to succeed, he said, they need “a unique differentiating factor, deep pockets, and strong protection against surveillance.”

Zoho’s billionaire co-founder Sridhar Vembu has become a national symbol of tech self-reliance through his rural-based business model, which runs key operations from small villages rather than major tech hubs.

India’s digital strategy increasingly reflects a geopolitical balancing act: promoting technological independence and data sovereignty while maintaining access to U.S. innovation and investment. Whether apps like Zoho and Arattai can sustain momentum without losing the enthusiasm of government boosters remains an open question.

ASML Becomes Largest Mistral Investor, Strengthening Europe’s AI Push

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ASML (ASML.AS) has invested €1.3 billion ($1.5 billion) in French AI startup Mistral AI, becoming its largest shareholder with an 11% stake after the company’s latest €1.7 billion ($2 billion) funding round. The deal values Mistral at €11.7 billion, making it Europe’s most valuable AI company.

Deal Highlights

  • ASML gains a board seat on Mistral’s strategic committee, filled by CFO Roger Dassen.

  • The companies will integrate AI models into ASML’s semiconductor equipment portfolio.

  • Mistral, founded in 2023 by ex-Google DeepMind and Meta researchers, is central to France’s AI strategy.

Strategic Importance

  • The move pairs Europe’s leading chip supplier with its AI frontrunner, boosting ambitions for digital sovereignty against U.S. tech giants like OpenAI, Meta, and Google.

  • Despite progress, Mistral remains far smaller than U.S. peers — OpenAI’s potential valuation is estimated at $500 billion, more than 40 times higher.

  • ING analyst Jan Frederik Slijkerman said the tie-up provides “industrial rationale” for co-developing AI-based products, easier through partnership than in-house development.

Political & Industry Backing

  • ASML has strong French ties: it recently named former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire as adviser, and its CEO Christophe Fouquet is French.

  • The deal reflects growing alignment between Europe’s industrial leaders and AI startups to bolster competitiveness in global tech.

Investors in the Round

Alongside ASML, backers include DST Global, Andreessen Horowitz, Bpifrance, General Catalyst, Index Ventures, Lightspeed, and Nvidia.

ASML shares rose 1% in early Amsterdam trading, giving the company a market value of €268 billion.

Russia Publishes List of Local Apps to Function During Internet Blackouts

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Russia’s Digital Development Ministry on Friday released a list of local apps and services that will remain operational during mobile internet shutdowns—blackouts authorities have often imposed to disrupt Ukrainian drone attacks.

The whitelist includes online government services, marketplaces, the Mir electronic payment system, and state-backed messenger MAX, but omits foreign rivals such as WhatsApp and YouTube, despite their massive popularity in Russia. According to Mediascope, WhatsApp had 97.6 million Russian users in July, making it the country’s most widely used app.

The ministry said a “special technical solution” would keep domestic apps running during shutdowns, claiming the move would minimize disruption for citizens while ensuring “security.” While Ukraine was not explicitly mentioned, governors in Russian border regions have repeatedly said temporary outages are needed to block drones from using mobile networks for navigation.

The decision also fits Moscow’s broader push since the 2022 invasion of Ukraine to expand control over its digital ecosystem and promote homegrown alternatives to foreign tech platforms. VK Group, the state-controlled tech company, has played a central role: its MAX messenger, now pre-installed on all phones sold in Russia, reported 30 million users this week, while its VK Messenger ranks third nationwide with 16.7 million users.

Meanwhile, Telegram, created by Russian-born Pavel Durov and used by 90.9 million Russians, was also excluded from the official list. Analysts see the move as a further attempt by the Kremlin to steer users toward domestically controlled services while sidelining foreign platforms that resist state oversight.