Aarogya Setu App

Aarogya Setu App - A Digital Initiative of GOI


The advent of COVID-19 has made tremendous changes in every aspect of our life. The pandemic has been declared a contagion and hence its identification requires contact tracing as an essential element. India, being one of the most populous countries in the world, had to deal with the identification and contact tracing of COVID-19 in an effective yet convenient manner. For this purpose our government came up with the innovative idea of using a mobile app for contact tracing and identification purpose. 

The Aarogya Setu app was launched by Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology(MeitY) to help citizen identify their risk of contracting COVID-19. The app has so far notched up more than 80 million downloads and is proving as a very efficient tool in  the detection and tracing of COVID-19 cases. The App is available on both Google Play(for Android users) and Apple Store(for ios users). It is available in total 11 languages - 10 Indian Language and 1 English Language. 


Aarogya Setu app has been designed to notify the user in case he/she has come into proximity with someone who has tested corona positive. The tracking is done through Bluetooth and location generated social graph which shows your interaction with anyone who has tested positive. For doing so the app requires the user to always share his location and also keep his Bluetooth ON all the time.




The Aarogya Setu app has an inbuilt tool for self testing. It comprises of questionnaire which consists of a set of questions for ascertaining if you have any symptoms of COVID-19, the information will be shared with government server. This shared data will then help government take timely precautionary measures and initiate quarantine procedures if necessary.

You will also be alerted if some one you came in proximity with, unknowingly tests positive. The app also advises you on how to self quarantine and what to do in case you develop symptoms for COVID-19.

The data is shared with the government only and the app does not allow the display of personal details on any public domain.The steps required to use the Aarogya Setu app are as follows:-
  1. Install the app through Playstore/Apple Store and allow the app the permission to use location.
  2. Enter the OTP for verification.
  3. Enter your demographic details such as Gender, Full Name, Age and Profession etc.
  4. Enter the information about your foreign travel history.
  5. Now you are ready to take the self test and confirm to the government that you are not COVID Positive.
After you have installed Aarogya Setu App it will detect other nearby cell phones which have the same app installed. The app can then figure out the risk of contraction based on sophisticated parameters.

There have been some concerns by privacy concern organizations such as IFF, who have raised alarm stating the privacy of the user may be compromised. To allay these fears the government has issued a directive to all Central government and PSU employees to install the app compulsorily. The government is also planning on using the app to reach out to grass root level people in villages and extreme backward areas. So the adoption and use of this app is significantly crucial.

The Government has also planned for other services to be incorporated into the app later on, such as green pass for commuting in public transport or visiting a public institution. Thus, it is essential for the citizen to understand the push behind this digital initiative of the government and install the app to help the government provide better and effective mode of identification and containment of COVID-19 pandemic.

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