New Delhi: In a major step toward enhancing India’s technological self-reliance, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has announced the launch of an indigenous web browser under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
This new browser, developed through the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC), is designed to prioritize security and data sovereignty.
On the occasion of World Happiness Day, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, unveiled the winners of the IWBDC during a ceremony hosted by MeitY.
The challenge, aimed at fostering innovation, saw strong participation from startups, students, and researchers across the nation. Organized by the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) in Bangalore, the challenge focused on creating a browser that would ensure India’s digital security while aligning with the nation’s Data Protection Act.
In his address, Vaishnaw emphasized India’s vision of becoming a “product nation” and stressed the importance of fostering homegrown technologies. He urged innovators to focus on large-scale productization, moving swiftly from innovation to the widespread use of secure and scalable solutions.
The winning entry was developed by Zoho Corporation, with Team PING and Team Ajna securing second and third positions, respectively. The winners received cash awards of Rs 1 crore, Rs 75 lakh, and Rs 50 lakh. The challenge, which attracted 434 teams, was divided into three stages: Ideation, Prototype, and Productization. Participants were tasked with designing browsers that featured essential functionalities like a dedicated trust store, digital signing, child-friendly browsing, and compatibility with Indian languages.
The new browser promises a host of advantages, including enhanced data security, compliance with India’s data protection laws, and assurance that user data remains within the country. It is expected to be compatible across major platforms such as iOS, Windows, and Android.
S Krishnan, Secretary of MeitY, along with other dignitaries from MeitY and C-DAC, attended the event, marking a significant milestone in India’s digital future and the continued push for digital sovereignty.
