Russia's government is considering transforming the Gosuslugi state services portal into a social network and universal digital ecosystem, adding family chats, local communities, news feeds and a rewards system under a strategy running to 2035, The Bell and Izvestia reported, citing unnamed sources.

The plan would give the state a communications platform built on verified identities, an advantage no Russian private operator holds. Gosuslugi has around 120mn users with confirmed accounts, one of the largest authenticated digital audiences in the country, and the proposal arrives as the Kremlin's earlier attempt to build a national super-app around the Max messenger runs into distribution problems abroad.

Apple removed Max from its App Store in recent months, and the application later disappeared from Google Play following EU sanctions on the platform.

Several development concepts remain under discussion. The preferred option would turn the portal into a platform for daily life, communication and access to services, with the government apparatus responsible for drafting the strategy.

One proposal would launch a social network inside Gosuslugi with a live news feed and the ability to create thematic and local communities. A source cited by Izvestia confirmed the authenticity of materials describing the proposed functions.

The government is also considering trusted family chats, allowing relatives to share calendars, manage family events and apply for certain public services on behalf of one another.

A further proposal would add an aggregator of cultural, sporting, tourism and volunteer events, letting users create events, invite participants and receive recommendations based on their interests and location.

Authorities are discussing an "achievements" reward system for actions completed inside the platform, which could give users bonuses and gifts from approved commercial partners.

The office of Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Grigorenko, who oversees the portal's development, confirmed the government is seeking to build a universal digital ecosystem around Gosuslugi, while saying final decisions have not been taken.

"Gosuslugi has an important advantage as every user is reliably verified. This creates the possibility of highly secure interaction between people, businesses and government bodies. We are working to realise the platform's potential in this area," Grigorenko's office said, The Bell.

The most significant changes could come within the next several years, according to an Izvestia source.