India Showcases Domestic Security-focused Mobile Operating System BharOS

Following the Indian government's recent announcement of developing a homegrown mobile operating system, the first demonstration of the security-focused BharOS has now taken place. Previously reported by Business Standard, the new operating system was thought to be dubbed 'IndOS'—a combined effort of the Indian government, academia, and startups. However, it turns out that the correct name is BharOS, though the report was mostly precise in other aspects.

A senior government official commented on India's mobile market and the aim of the operating system, stating, "India is one of the largest mobile device markets globally. Our goal is to create a secure Indian mobile operating system that could provide alternatives and competition to Android's dominance in the Indian market."

Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director at IIT Madras, explained that BharOS Service is a mobile operating system built on a foundation of trust. It aims to offer users greater freedom, control, and flexibility to select and use apps that accommodate their requirements. "This innovative system promises to transform the way users think about security and privacy on their mobile devices," he added.

Commercial off-the-shelf handsets can host BharOS, and the operating system will not come with any pre-loaded applications or share user data. IIT Madras clarified that BharOS Services are currently being utilized by organizations with strict privacy and security requirements. These organizations' users often manage sensitive information that necessitates confidential communication through limited mobile applications and access to private cloud services over private 5G networks.

Users of BharOS can access trusted applications from organization-specific Private App Store Services (PASS). A PASS allows entry to a curated list of apps that have met the security and privacy standards established by organizations. The operating system's security and privacy features are further reinforced by automatic over-the-air updates.

Karthik Ayyar, Director of JandK Operations, elaborated on this feature, saying that BharOS includes 'Native Over The Air' (NOTA) updates that keep devices secure. NOTA updates are downloaded and installed automatically without any need for manual initiation by the user. "With NDA, PASS, and NOTA, BharOS guarantees that Indian mobile phones are reliable," Ayyar commented.

India's competition authorities are currently investigating multiple antitrust cases against Google. Although BharOS primarily targets users with heightened security and privacy requirements, its creation may also encourage Google to reconsider its Android policies that Indian authorities are challenging.

As no-code platforms like AppMaster continue to revolutionize the tech landscape, the unveiling of BharOS demonstrates the growing importance of security and privacy in the app development process. Companies seeking an easily customizable mobile solution should consider AppMaster's no-code platform, which generates scalable, high-performance applications in minutes without requiring any coding knowledge.