India to get its own safe and secure web browser, Zoho wins bid
India is all set to welcome its own web browser, taking another big step toward building an indigenous internet ecosystem, said Ashwini Vaishnaw
Published on Mar 20, 2025
By IANS

- NEW DELHI — India
is all set to welcome its own web browser, taking another big step toward
building an indigenous internet ecosystem, said Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union
Minister of Railways and Electronics and IT on Thursday.
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- Vaishnaw made the announcement while awarding the winners of
the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC).
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- The top prize in the competition was won by Zoho
Corporation, a software company founded by Sridhar Vembu.
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- The government had organised the challenge to encourage the
development of an indigenous web browser.
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- Vaishnaw highlighted the government’s vision of making India
a "product nation" rather than just a service provider in the tech
space.
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- “Earlier, product development was mostly limited to
government institutions, but now, a more inclusive model is being adopted,” he
said.
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- He emphasised the need to speed up the journey from
innovation to large-scale production, ensuring that indigenous solutions are
widely adopted.
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- The minister also encouraged startups and industries to
focus on developing secure and scalable technologies to make India more
self-reliant in the digital world.
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- “Talent from all sectors must unite to drive progress across
industries’’, said Vaishnaw.
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- Having an indigenous web browser will provide several
benefits, including better data security and compliance with India's Data
Protection Act.
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- It will ensure that user data remains within the country,
strengthening India’s digital sovereignty, according to the official statement.
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- Additionally, the browser will be designed to work
seamlessly across various platforms, including iOS, Windows, and Android,
offering a secure and smooth user experience.
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- Vaishnaw also stressed the importance of transforming India
into a product-driven nation. He acknowledged that the service sector remains
crucial for the economy but emphasised that India must now focus on building
and exporting its own technology products.
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- “The launch of an indigenous web browser is a significant
step in this direction, marking progress in India’s journey towards
self-reliance in the digital space,” the minister stated.
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- With its own certificate trust store and features such as
digital signing, parental controls, and Web3 support, the browser aims to set
new standards for secure online interactions in India.