India aims to develop its own web browser software

Union IT and Electronics Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that India should create its own software products, including web browsers. He noted that while India has a strong IT sector generating over $282 billion, the focus has mainly been on services. The government is now encouraging startups and academic institutions to work on software development. Vaishnaw highlighted a recent initiative where the government challenged developers to create an indigenous browser. This attracted significant interest, leading to 58 entries from academia, startups, students, and researchers. After careful evaluation, three teams were chosen as winners. Team Zoho received first prize, followed by Team Ping in second place and Team Ajna in third. The minister emphasized the importance of a web browser, describing it as a key tool for accessing the internet. He mentioned that activities like surfing the web, checking email, and conducting online transactions typically rely on browsers. The new browser is expected to be compatible with major operating systems, including Apple’s iOS, Microsoft Windows, and Google’s Android.