MeghRaj

Polity & Governance glossary

Also called: GI Cloud, National Cloud Computing Initiative · Topic: Transparency, Accountability and e-Governance · NCERT: Beyond NCERT

Meaning

MeghRaj is India's National Cloud Computing Initiative, also called GI Cloud (Government of India Cloud). MeitY launched it in 2014. Cloud computing means using storage, servers and software over the internet when needed, instead of each office buying its own servers. MeghRaj gives government departments three kinds of cloud service:

  • IaaS: rented virtual servers, storage and networks.
  • PaaS: tools for building and launching apps.
  • SaaS: ready-to-use software.

Private cloud service providers can join MeghRaj only after MeitY empanels them, which means approving them for an official list. Before that, the STQC Directorate must audit them against ISO security standards. MeghRaj matters because it speeds up e-governance, cuts government spending on IT and keeps citizens' data under Indian control.

Example

By September 2026, 30 cloud service providers had been empanelled. In the same month, 2,330 government departments were using the upgraded MeghRaj 2.0. Providers apply through MeitY's AMBUD portal. Departments then buy their cloud services through GeM.

Don't confuse with

  • NIC and State Data Centres: these are data centres that the government owns and runs. MeghRaj is the wider cloud system, which also uses private providers. Under MeitY's Cloud Selection Framework (2026), sensitive data goes first to NIC and State Data Centres, and less critical work can go to empanelled private providers.
  • Government e-Marketplace (GeM): GeM is the online portal through which departments buy cloud services. It does not provide the cloud itself.

Read more