In a major advancement towards digital independence, the Central government has chosen Zoho Corporation as the winner of the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC), part of the Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative. This challenge, initiated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and organized by C-DAC Bangalore, seeks to create a domestically developed web browser that emphasizes security, privacy, and compatibility with leading platforms.
Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the results during an event in Delhi, underscoring the government’s vision to shift India from a “service nation” to a “product nation.” He stressed the importance of accelerating innovation into large-scale products, ensuring that Indian digital solutions are competitive, secure, and scalable.
MeitY stated that the benefits of a homegrown Indian browser are significant. It will enhance data security by keeping user information within the country, allowing for better control over sensitive data. It will also comply with India’s Data Protection Act, ensuring privacy and adherence to high data security standards. Moreover, all data generated by Indian citizens will remain in India, bolstering the nation’s digital sovereignty. The browser will also be compatible with major platforms like iOS, Windows, and Android, ensuring wide accessibility and usability across devices.
In his address to the participants, the minister noted that developing India’s own web browser is a crucial first step towards establishing a comprehensive Indian digital ecosystem. Zoho Corporation was declared the winner, with Team PING, a startup, taking the first runner-up position, and Team Ajna, another startup, securing the second runner-up spot. To acknowledge their exceptional efforts, prizes of Rs 1 crore, Rs 75 lakhs, and Rs 50 lakhs were awarded to the winner, first runner-up, and second runner-up, respectively.
A notable recognition was given to “Jio Vishwakarma” for their innovative browser designs across various platforms. The challenge involved creating a browser equipped with a range of essential features, such as a dedicated trust store featuring the CCA India Root certificate, digital signing capabilities, child-friendly browsing options, parental controls, full compatibility with all official Indian languages, Web3 support, and advanced browser functionalities.
Initially, 434 teams entered the competition, which unfolded in three stages: Ideation, Prototype, and Productization. The final eight teams were assessed by a prestigious Jury Panel. This initiative aims to lessen reliance on foreign browsers, ensuring that Indian user data remains within the country and enhancing national digital sovereignty.
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