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The Smart Techie was renamed Siliconindia India Edition starting Feb 2012 to continue the nearly two decade track record of excellence of our US edition.

November - 2010 - issue > In Focus

India to Have Its Own OS

ST Team

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Forward

Two software engineering centres set up by the Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO), in Bangalore and New Delhi, with 50 scientists are working towards creating a futuristic computing system including India’s own operating system. “There are many gaps in our software areas; particularly we don’t have our own operating system,” said V.K. Saraswat, Scientific Adviser to the Defence Minister and DRDO Director-General. “India currently uses operating systems developed by western countries. In today’s world where you have tremendous requirements of security on whatever you do, economy, banking or defence, it’s essential that you need to have an operating system” he said. Referring to reports of cyber attacks in recent times and “susceptibility” of internet, Saraswat noted instances of “data taken away by adversaries”. “With a home-grown system, the source code will be with us and it helps in securing our systems,” he said.

The Defence Research and Development Organization has collaborated with Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the Centre for Development of Telematics, besides universities and industries for the fulfillment of the project. Though the time frame and cost of development is yet to be disclosed, the new operating system would be made available for commercial use. DRDO has a “complete framework” on the proposed commercial arm, which is expected to be operational next year. This arm would customize and provide to the civil population the spin-offs of defense technologies.