I have 47 apps on my phone. I actively use 11 of them. The other 36 exist because I installed them once for something specific, forgot to delete them, and they now quietly drain battery and storage.
This list is the 11 — the ones I would install on day one if I got a new phone tomorrow. No sponsored recommendations, no apps I was asked to include. Just the ones that have genuinely made daily life easier.
For Payments — BHIM UPI
Most people use PhonePe or Google Pay for UPI which is fine. But BHIM — the government’s own UPI app — has one advantage neither of the others has: it works reliably on low internet connections and older Android phones.
For anyone in a Tier 2 or Tier 3 city where internet speeds are inconsistent BHIM is noticeably more reliable for completing transactions when the connection is weak. Free, no ads, no promotional clutter.
Download: Search “BHIM” on Play Store. Published by NPCI — National Payments Corporation of India.
For Train Booking — IRCTC Rail Connect
The official IRCTC app is the only way to book Tatkal tickets reliably on mobile. Third-party train booking apps (MakeMyTrip, Cleartrip, Ixigo) work fine for normal bookings but Tatkal booking requires being logged in on IRCTC at exactly 10 AM (for AC classes) or 11 AM (for Sleeper). Third-party apps add a booking fee and sometimes lag at peak Tatkal times.
The IRCTC app is not beautiful but it is functional and direct. For anyone who travels by train regularly it is non-negotiable.
For Government Documents — DigiLocker
DigiLocker stores digital copies of your Aadhaar, PAN, driving licence, vehicle registration, academic certificates, and insurance documents. These digital copies are legally valid — you do not need physical documents for most purposes where you previously needed to carry originals.
I have not carried a physical driving licence in two years. The DigiLocker version on my phone is accepted at police checkpoints, at RTO offices, and for most KYC processes.
Download: Search “DigiLocker” on Play Store. Published by Ministry of Electronics and IT, Government of India.
For Health Records — ABHA (Ayushman Bharat Health Account)
ABHA creates a unique health ID that stores your medical records, prescriptions, lab reports, and health history digitally. Doctors and hospitals who are registered on the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission can access your records with your permission.
This is still building momentum in India — not every hospital is on the system yet. But registering now costs nothing and the health record storage is genuinely useful even independently of the hospital network.
Download: Search “ABHA” on Play Store.
For Daily News — Inshorts
Inshorts summarises every news story in 60 words. For people who want to stay informed but do not have time to read full articles it is genuinely the most efficient news consumption available.
The summaries are accurate and clearly sourced. You can read through 20 news stories in 5 minutes. Covers Indian and international news across politics, business, sports, and technology.
I check it for 5 minutes every morning with chai. Better than scrolling through a full news site and getting pulled into comment sections.
For Air Quality — Sameer (CPCB)
Anyone living in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, or any large Indian city should have the Sameer app. Published by the Central Pollution Control Board it shows real-time AQI (Air Quality Index) for your location and for cities across India.
On days when AQI exceeds 300 in Delhi — which happens regularly in winter — knowing before you step out whether to wear a mask is practically useful. The data comes directly from government monitoring stations.
Download: Search “Sameer CPCB” on Play Store.
For Emergencies — 112 India
The 112 India app is the unified emergency response app for Police, Ambulance, and Fire services. Beyond calling 112 the app has a panic button feature that sends your GPS location to emergency services and to your registered emergency contacts simultaneously.
For women travelling alone, for elderly family members, or for anyone in an area with unfamiliar surroundings this app is worth having installed and set up even if you never need to use it.
Download: Search “112 India” on Play Store. Published by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
For Learning — DIKSHA
DIKSHA is the government’s e-learning platform with courses, textbooks, and educational content from Class 1 through competitive exam preparation. The content is in multiple Indian languages and is completely free.
For students in government schools, for parents supporting their children’s education, and for anyone preparing for government competitive exams the content quality is genuinely good and the price is unbeatable.