New Delhi: Taking the next step in empowering India’s digitalization, the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeityY) launched the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC) on August 9.

The new step of IWBDC is an Open Challenge Competition, which will inspire and empower individuals interested in the IT sector, innovators, and developers across India to create an indigenous web browser with its own trust store. The development will be having an inbuilt CCA India root certificate, equipped with exemplary functionalities with top-class security and protection services for data privacy.

Browser’s attributes

The offered browser primarily focuses on accessibility and user-friendliness, ensuring built-in support for individuals with different specifications. The development ensures the ability to digitally sign documents with the crypto token, strengthening secure transactions and digitally made transactions.

Ministry’s vision

“The IWBDC is an Open Challenge Competition that seeks to inspire and empower technology enthusiasts, innovators, and developers from all corners of the country to create an indigenous web browser with its own trust store with an inbuilt CCA India root certificate, cutting edge functionalities and enhanced security & data privacy protection features.”

The Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi, organised the launch programme. The significant personages that joined the program were Sunita Verma, Scientist & Group Coordinator (R&D in Electronics b& Information Technology), Controller of Certifying Authorities, Arvind Kumar, MeitY and Dr S.D.Sudarshan, Executive Director C-DAC, Bangalore.

During the event, Sunita Verma said that India’s image in digitalization will be turned upside down, from empowering citizens to boosting the economy and enhancing overall governance.

S D Sudarshan, ED, C-DAC Bangalore gave the details on the process of competition. He said that anybody can partake in the challenge and contribute their ideas. The challenge has three rounds in particular. In the first round 18 entries would be selected. Consecutively, in the second round, 8 participants will be shortlisted to enter the final round. At last, the winner and first runner-up will be selected.

All along the challenge, technical mentorship would be provided.

From the total prize pool of Rs 3.41 crore, winners would be given Rs 1 crore. Furthermore, the winner would also be supported to take the development browser to the next level.

(Written By- Mahek Nigam)