Public App, part of Inshorts Group, now has 80 million users. It gets more than 15 billion monthly views across 700 districts in India. The growth comes from its focus on local news, regional languages, which has pushed the parent group reach to 92 million users nationwide.
Public App Download
The platform operates on a local-first approach, offering content in 12 Indian languages that users can easily download via the public app. Unlike global short-video apps that rely heavily on lifestyle or viral entertainment loops, this platform has anchored its content strategy around regional updates, community activities, civic alerts, devotional content, and skill development.
This localized positioning has allowed the app to secure a foothold in non-metropolitan markets, commonly referred to as Bharat. The content distribution is managed through an automated backend infrastructure that aggregates and categorizes video feeds based on geographical relevance.
Among its targeted content initiatives, a dedicated video format focused on learning and skill acquisition, named Pathshala, has accumulated over 61 million views, indicating demand for educational material alongside regional updates.
Who Controls Content
A significant factor behind the user acquisition is the platform’s verified creator framework. The network currently includes over 18,000 verified content creators and media partners who report on district-level developments.
This independent creator network is supplemented by institutional accounts, with more than 1.25 lakh verified government profiles utilizing the platform for civic communication.
National and state-level administrative bodies, including MyGov, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and the Ministry of Agriculture, use the application to broadcast public advisories and welfare updates directly to district-level audiences.
This institutional integration provides the platform with a layer of credibility that differentiates it from standard user-generated video networks.
What Leadership Says
The corporate strategy remains focused on utility-driven consumption rather than maximizing passive digital screen time. The platform is positioning itself as a brand-safe advertising environment by moving away from standard algorithmic engagement models that prioritize sensationalism.
"Public App has crossed 80 million users by staying focused on one idea: that Bharat deserves a video platform built for how it actually lives, learns and connects," said Deepit Purkayastha, Co-Founder and CEO of Inshorts Group.
"Not a feed optimised for scroll time, but a destination where a farmer in Nashik, a first-generation student in Jaunpur, and a shopkeeper from Bikaner can each find content they trust, in the language they call their own. Trust at Bharat scale – that’s what we’ve built."
How Brands Engage
For digital marketers and consumer brands, the penetration into tier-2, tier-3, and rural districts offers a structured channel to target regional demographics. The aggregation of localized audiences within a verified, government-backed ecosystem provides an alternative to mainstream short-video platforms where brand safety and ad fraud remain persistent operational challenges.
As regional digital ad spend increases in India, the ability to segment audiences by specific districts and languages is expected to dictate the next phase of monetization for the parent entity. The focus will likely center on deeper regional ad monetization and expanding the verified creator ecosystem to sustain retention rates.
About Public App
Public App is a hyper-local video platform launched by the Inshorts Group, the operators of India's popular short-form news application, Inshorts. Designed specifically for regional audiences outside major metropolitan cities, Public App provides real-time local updates, civic announcements, and community-driven video content.
The platform allows users, local journalists, and government authorities to record and share short videos detailing incidents, administrative updates, and cultural events happening within their immediate vicinity.
