Indian PM Modi's government provides full access to Twitter as part of social network training scheme

Twitter has been granted unprecedented access to Indian prime minister Narenda Modi’s government as he makes the social network a central component of his administration.Modi, who is the fourth most followed politician on Twitter with five million followers and 18.8 million likes on Facebook, has focused on creating media and research strategies around the two social networks.Twitter has liased directly with Indian government members, advising and training them in social media use as well as running workshops on online communication.Additionally, Facebook COO, Sheryl Sandberg is also to meet Ravi Shankar Prasad, India’s minister for information and technology on Thursday.Only 13.7 per cent of Indians are estimated to have access to internet but this is likely to rise – especially if the current Indian administration are putting so much emphasis on social media.On Twitter, Modi showed his intentions of connecting his government staff to the public via social networks.

Modi has embraced social networking as a tool of communication and transparency

Welcoming @RashtrapatiBhvn to Twitter! Will be a wonderful medium for the people to connect with the President & his office.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 1, 2014