Narendra Modi App a Big Hit in India; Ruling the Charts on Apple App Store, Google Play

The effects of demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes can be seen outside ATMs and in banks, but with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest announcement, they can be seen on app stores too. The official Narendra Modi app has become a major hit in India, becoming a trending topic both the Apple App Store and Google Play store in India after the Prime Minister asked the public to give their view on demonetisation via the app. Not only is it a trending topic on the two major app marketplaces, but the official Narendra Modi app is also among the most downloaded apps on the App Store and Google Play.

On the App Store, search terms related to the Narendra Modi app occupy all 10 spots of the Trending list. The scene is not too different on Google Play store either, with 11 out of the top 12 trending apps related to Prime Minister Modi; in fact, the only remaining app is also related to the new currency notes that became the new currency on November 8.

When it comes to downloads, the Narendra Modi app is the most-downloaded app on App Store among free apps. On the other hand, the Narendra Modi app ranks on No. 18 among the top downloaded free apps on Google Play marketplace.

The Prime Minister on Tuesday asked the public to share with him their “first-hand view” on the decision to scrap the old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 notes via the official Narendra Modi app, though there has been criticism of the survey in some quarters. Among the questions asked on the PM Modi app are: "Do you have any suggestions/ideas or insights you would like to share with PM Narendra Modi?", "Do you think black money exists in India?", "Do you think the evil of corruption and black money need to be fought and eliminated?", "What do you think of government's move of banning old Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 notes?"

Searches for the Narendra Modi app on Google Play may also be boosted by the demand for duplicates of the Modi Keynote app, which claimed to distinguish between authentic and fake Rs. 2000 notes before being pulled from the marketplace.