The operating system (OS) is the foundation of any computer, smartphone or a similar device, orchestrating the interactions between hardware and software. Despite its critical role, the choice of operating systems remains relatively narrow due to the inherent complexity and higher costs of developing and maintaining such systems. In India, Google's Android OS dominates the smartphone market with a 95% market share, while Apple’s iOS holds a humble 3.9%. Similarly, the desktop and laptop landscape are predominantly ruled by Microsoft Windows, with Apple’s macOS and Linux trailing behind. Over the years, operating systems have evolved significantly to incorporate innovative features and address emerging technological challenges. Those that could leverage this opportunity emerged victors.
Historically,
many operating systems, such as Symbian and Blackberry OS, failed to maintain
relevance in the highly competitive smartphone market. These systems could not
keep pace with the rapid advancements and user expectations that Android and
iOS successfully addressed. The survival of the dominant operating systems can
largely be attributed to their user-friendliness and, more importantly, their
monopolistic market power, which has made it difficult for alternative systems
to gain traction.
Microsoft’s
foray into the smartphone market with its Windows Phone OS, intended to compete
with Android and iOS, ultimately fell short. One of the primary challenges was
the need to build a comprehensive ecosystem of apps, which proved to be a
daunting task. There was little incentive for developers to create apps for a
relatively new OS, leading to a limited app availability that further hampered
the system’s adoption. This lack of developer support and app diversity was a
significant factor in the OS's eventual decline. Consequently, Microsoft
shifted its strategy and decided to adopt Android for its smartphones,
leveraging the existing ecosystem rather than attempting to compete directly.
This
monopolistic dominance by a few multinational corporations has had a stifling
effect on domestic innovation in the field of operating systems, particularly
in India. The lack of prominent domestic smartphone brands has exacerbated the
challenge, as local players struggle to compete with well-established
international giants. However, China's success in creating a domestic operating
system shows that innovation is possible. In 2019, Huawei launched HarmonyOS
after facing severe restrictions from the U.S. that prevented it from using
Google’s Android OS. Initially based on Android, HarmonyOS has since evolved
into a fully independent system with the release of HarmonyOS NEXT in 2024.
Coming back
to India, the journey towards fostering domestic innovation in mobile operating
systems remains challenging. The development of BharOS, initiated by JandK
Operations Private Limited at the IIT Madras incubation center, was initially
thought to be promising. BharOS, a fork of the Android Open Source Project
(AOSP) which allows anyone to develop an Android based OS, aimed to provide a
viable alternative to mainstream operating systems. While it offers some
benefits, such as enhanced security compared to other Android versions, it fell
short of innovation and its reliance on the Android kernel means it remains
vulnerable to hacking. The project has yet to fully deliver on its potential,
highlighting the difficulties involved in creating and maintaining a new
operating system.
In the realm
of desktop computers and laptops, India has explored alternatives to Windows OS
with an emphasis on national security. The need for a secure and reliable
operating system for high-risk applications, such as those used in nuclear
power plants, became apparent after a significant cyber-attack in 2019 at the
Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant, which utilized a Windows OS-based system. This
incident raised concerns about the security of such critical infrastructure.
Previously, India had already developed BOSS (Bharat Operating System
Solutions), the first version being released in 2006, a Linux-based OS designed
to replace Windows for localized applications. Despite its focus on security
and localization, BOSS faced limitations in functionality compared to Windows,
preventing its widespread adoption.
Subsequently, learning from the Kudamkulam attack, India embarked on the development of MayaOS, based on Ubuntu, for military and high-security applications. Launched in 2023, MayaOS now holds the key to reducing dependency on Windows and enhancing national security for the time being. Linux-based operating systems, such as MayaOS, offer several advantages over Windows, including being open-source, free, and are generally considered more secure. Many countries, including China, Germany, and Russia, have developed their own Linux-based OS variants, reflecting a broader trend towards self-sufficiency. However, Linux-based systems are not completely immune to vulnerabilities, as demonstrated by a February 2024 security breach in Linux’s XZ Utils, which compromised the Linux kernel and was described by experts as, "a grave risk to system integrity and security".
Looking Ahead
Given the
complexity of creating an entirely new operating system, governments and firms
alike globally have focused on enhancing Linux and Android-based systems for
computers and smartphones respectively. The most widely used operating systems,
including Windows, Android, Linux, and iOS, have reached their current level of
stability through decades of iterative improvements and security fixes. The
continued vulnerability of these systems underscores the difficulty of creating
a new, fully secure OS. However, relying exclusively on foreign vendors for
critical systems poses risks to India’s sovereignty and technological
independence. To address this challenge, the Indian government should formulate
a comprehensive plan and establish a timeline for developing a wholly
indigenous operating system, ideally in collaboration with a major private
sector partner.
Private
companies might be reluctant to undertake such a risky venture alone due to the
high costs and uncertain returns, as evidenced by Windows Mobile OS. The profit
motive often deters companies from investing in projects with uncertain
outcomes. Government intervention could play a crucial role in overcoming these
barriers, but it must also address concerns about public trust and
transparency.
As critics of government control would argue, a government cannot be trusted with sensitive technologies like Operating Systems that could undermine individual freedoms and autonomy. It's the case with countries like North Korea, where technology is heavily regulated by the government to the point of infringing personal freedoms. Therefore, the development of an indigenous operating system should involve private players, setting a timeline and providing financial support, and allow public participation in testing and refinement. Although this endeavor is challenging, it has the potential to stimulate the country’s entrepreneurial spirit, enhance public responsibility, and solidify India’s position on the global stage upon its successful implementation.
