(Image source from: MEA dominates Social Media})

Since Narendra Modi has taken the charge of the Nation, Government ministries and departments at various levels are reaching masses on digital platforms like Facebook, Twitter, google+ and Youtube. Among all ministries Ministry of External Affairs has been bagged more number of followers than that of other ministries.

Ministry of Externel Affairs is having largest base in social media, because some facts reveal that MEA has huge number of followers. MEA keeps updated information on Indian Diplomacy, Foreign policy, official statements and addressing grievances.

MEA’s website www.mea.gov.in is one of the most widely accessed websites of government of India. It is also one of the few government websites which is fully compliant with the Guidelines for Indian Government Websites.

MEA’s twitter handle @Indiandiplomacy, which is managed by MEA’s spokesperson, is having followers about 2.78 lakh. Where as its official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin’s handler @MEAIndia is also having 2 lakh followers, shows the credibility of him.
6.82 lakh likes for MEA’s facebook page show the strong following. Even Youtube statistics also show higher number of subscribers and many views for MEAs videos. Youtube channel of Indian Diplomacy has 16,500 subscribers and 4.2 million views for their videos. And MEAIndia too has 6,100 subscribers and 5.5 lakh vies so far.

MEA also launched a Mobile APP, first among all ministries, ‘MEAIndia’ which is attracting many users. And recently it also launched new version 2.2 for this ‘MEAIndia’ APP with telephone directory.

“India Perspectives” a flagship magazine of MEA is available in 14 languages – Hindi, Arabic, English, French, German, Indonesian, Italian, Pashto, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Sinhalese, Spanish and Tamil. The digital magazine can now be read on hand-held digital devices such as mobile phones effectively.

MEA’s ‘Interactive World Map’ also impressive and its page of ‘Indian Treaties Database’ also gives good amount of information.

In 2014 the focus of MEA was on subjects like (i) Elections in India, (ii) Role of Indians in WW I, (iii) 50 Years of ITEC, (iv) 50 years of India in Space, (v) India's North East in our Look East policy.

For 2015, the themes are going to be: (i) Women - "Stree Shakti"; (ii) Flagship initiatives of the government like Make in India (link with Hannover Messe fair participation), Digital India, Clean Ganga and Smart Cities etc.; (iii) Yoga - Peace Within and in the world; (iv) Act East; (v) India's maritime trade routes; and (vi) India's neighborhood - SAARC at 30.

All most all ministries are trying to reach the targeted readers and people via Social media and technological platforms. All are trying to disseminate the important information in part of open and accessible governance.

AW: Kannamsai