India Unveils Plan For Home-Grown Browser To Boost Data Security

India is set to create its own home-grown web browser to enhance data security and privacy, according to the government. A competition to design this browser was held, with the results unveiled today.

Speaking at the event, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw described it as a significant step in shifting India's focus from services to product development.

Photo Credit: PTI

The IT sector, which brings in £223 billion in revenue, has so far concentrated primarily on services, the minister noted.

"Now, the Government of India is promoting start-ups and academia to develop software products. The goal is to develop India into a product nation," he said.

"The government threw open the challenge to develop indigenous browser, to which academia, startups, students, researchers responded enthusiastically," he added.

Mr Vaishnaw explained that a browser serves as the entry point to the internet, making its development a crucial first move towards establishing a fully Indian technology stack in the near future.

Having an Indian-made browser would also bolster data security and privacy, as it would comply with the Data Protection Act, ensuring that the data of Indian citizens remains within the country.

The new browser will work across iOS, Windows, and Android platforms, the minister confirmed.

Transforming India into a "product nation" will involve creating both software and hardware for analogue and digital systems.

"Step by step we must build the stack," he said, stressing that the entire industry-researchers, academia, start-ups, and students-must collaborate to make this vision a reality.