BharOS

Last updated

BharOS (IndOS)
Developer JandK Operations Private Limited, IIT Madras
OS family Android (Linux)
Working stateCurrent
Source model Close source
Latest release BharOS 1
Marketing target Smartphones
Available in English (India), Hindi, Odia, Punjabi
Supported platforms ARM64
Default
user interface 		Graphical (multi-touch)

BharOS (formerly IndOS [1] ) is a closed-source, Android-based operating system developed by IIT Madras. [2] It is funded by the Indian government, which intends to use it on government and public systems. [3]

Contents

History

In 2023, Competition Commission of India (CCI) filed two antitrust cases against Google, the developer of Android. [4] In addition, there have been growing calls for an Indian app store that does not levy exorbitant sales tax; these two factors contributed to the creation of BharOS. [5] It aims to reduce India's dependence on foreign software and promote the use of Indian technology (despite being an Android fork itself). [6]

The operating system was introduced by JandKops, a startup company incubated at IIT Madras. [7] Indian ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Dharmendra Pradhan publicly launched the operating system on January 19, 2023. [8] [9] [10]

Features

BharOS targets security-conscious groups and does not come with any preinstalled third-party programs. [11] [12] This approach gives the user 'more freedom and control' over the permissions that are available to apps on their device. Users can choose to grant permissions only to apps that they require to access certain features or data on their device. [13] The software can be installed on commercially available handsets, providing users with a secure environment, the company stated in a statement. [14] The new operating system will provide access to trusted apps via organisation-specific Private App Store Services (PASS), which is a list of curated apps that meet security and privacy standards. [13]

At a panel discussion, Karthik Ayyar, the Director of JandKops, indicated that only applicable security updates will be applied to BharOS devices in closed group networks [15]

Criticism

Divya Bhati writing for India Today noted that instructions on downloading, installing BharOS on compatible devices, or plans for new devices, or its support for security and software updates were scant. [13] In September 2023, a fork of GrapheneOS containing references to BharOS was made public on GitHub. [16] Although the GitHub Profile of Sadhasiva, which hosted the code has since been deleted, it can be viewed through unofficial forks by archival websites. [17] Through a tweet, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation identified the code to have originated from Megam Solutions, a Chennai-based software company which was not connected with JandKops. However, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation is a client of Megam Solutions. [18] In a subsequent tweet, the organization highlighted communications with the CEO of Megam Solutions, that the name BharOS was unintentionally used. [19]

Ayyar, stated that the operating system would remain closed source software due to "organizational reasons". Ayyar indicated that he did not have the authority to make decisions regarding whether BharOS's source code would be open or closed. [20]

References

  1. ↑ Sharwood, Simon (January 25, 2023). "Well that escalated quickly: India demos homebrew mobile OS". The Register. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Indian govt aims to build Aatmanirbhar chipset and BharOS to take on Google, Apple". India Today. January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ "'BharOS', Made-In-India Operating System, Tested. Check Out Its Features". NDTV.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ "ETtech Explained: what is government-backed BharOS and why is it important?". The Economic Times. January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  5. ↑ "'BharOS' vs Android: India Needs Not Just a Self-Reliant but Reliable Operating System". The Wire. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  6. ↑ Aulakh, Gulveen (January 25, 2023). "BharOS ready for launch; govt, private firms do a reality check". mint. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ "IIT-Madras Incubated Firm Develops Indigenous Mobile Operating System". NDTV.com. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  8. ↑ @EduMinOfIndia (January 19, 2023). "Paving a way for Atmanirbhar Bharat!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  9. ↑ "Can India's BharOS replace Android, iOS? Tough road ahead". January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ "BharOS: Vaishnaw, Pradhan test 'Made In India' mobile operating system developed by IIT Madras". The Economic Times. January 24, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Open Sesame: BharOS makes it possible to break the stranglehold of Android. It requires support". Times of India Blog. January 26, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  12. ↑ "What is BharOS, the new mobile operating system made in India that wants to take on Android?". January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 28, 2023.
  13. 1 2 3 Bhati, Divya (January 23, 2023). "BharOS, a new rival to Android? Here are all your question answered". India Today. Archived from the original on September 29, 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  14. ↑ "IIT Madras-incubated firm develops BharOS, India's rival to android" . Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ [REPLAY] BharOS Panel Discussion . Retrieved April 7, 2024– via www.youtube.com.
  16. ↑ "Leaked GitHub repo raises questions on IITM's BharOS: Story so far". Techcircle. October 3, 2023. Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  17. ↑ "Github Repo of sadhasiva1984". Github. September 28, 2023. Archived from the original on September 30, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Megam Solutions". megamsolutions.com. Retrieved April 22, 2024.
  19. ↑ "IITM Pravartak on X". X (formerly Twitter). Retrieved October 8, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Agam's Tech Tricks". Telegram. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
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