India Operating System (BharOS) is a new operating system developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, which is an autonomous institute under the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India. The operating system is based on the Linux kernel and is designed to be lightweight, efficient and secure.
BharOS is an indigenous mobile operating system developed by JandK Operations Private Limited (JandKops), an IIT Madras-incubated firm. It is designed to be installed on commercial off-the-shelf handsets, and is being offered to organizations that have stringent privacy and security requirements, and whose users handle sensitive information that requires secure and private communication on specific, restricted mobile applications. The operating system is built on a foundation of trust, with a focus on providing users more freedom, control, and flexibility to choose and use only the apps that fit their needs. BharOS does not come with pre-installed or default apps (NDA), allowing users to have the freedom of choice and not being compelled to use apps they are not familiar with or may not trust, and also allows them to have more control over the permissions that apps have on their device, as they can choose to only allow apps that they trust to access certain features or data on their device. The BharOS also offers "Native Over The Air" (NOTA) updates that can help to keep the devices secure, and access to trusted apps from organization-specific Private App Store Services (PASS).
The operating system is primarily aimed at reducing the dependence on foreign technology in the country and providing a secure and stable solution for the Indian market. It has been designed to address the needs of the Indian market and cater to different use-cases.
One of the key features of BharOS is its support for multiple Indian languages. The operating system includes a built-in Indian language input method, allowing users to type and read in their preferred language. This is a major advantage for users in India, where many people are not fluent in English.
BharOS also includes a number of other features designed to meet the needs of Indian users. These include support for Indian government services, such as the UIDAI, and the ability to access Indian government websites without the need for a VPN.
In addition to its language support and government services support, BharOS also includes a number of security features, including built-in firewalls and intrusion detection systems, to help protect users from online threats.
BharOS is available for free download and can be installed on any device that supports Linux. The operating system is actively maintained and developed by the IIT Madras, ensuring that it stays up-to-date with the latest security and performance improvements.
In conclusion, BharOS is a new, powerful and feature-rich operating system developed by IIT Madras, designed to meet the needs of Indian users. With support for multiple Indian languages, built-in support for Indian government services, and strong security features, BharOS is a great choice for anyone looking for a reliable, secure and stable operating system.