ANS: Indian Institute of Technology Madras-incubated firm has developed a mobile operating system named ‘BharOS’. It was developed indigenously by JandK Operations Private Limited, a company founded by IIT Madras.
‘BharOS’ is a major step forward in the development of solid indigenous digital infrastructure in the country. As part of PM Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat project, researchers at IIT Madras have developed the privacy-focused BharOS.
“Users can feel safe using software that can be installed on standard commercially available handsets. ‘BharOS’ has No Default Apps (NDA), so users are not compelled to utilise programmes with which they are unfamiliar or with which they could have security concerns,” the company claimed in a statement.
According to the institute, consumers would have more freedom in selecting and using only the most useful applications.
During a press conference, IIT Madras Director and Professor V. Kamakoti said, “BharOS Service is a Mobile Operating System built on a foundation of trust, with an emphasis on allowing users more freedom, control, and flexibility to choose and utilise just the apps that fit their needs. This groundbreaking technology will undoubtedly alter people’s perspectives on mobile privacy and safety.
“Native over-the-air updates (NOTA) are system updates that can be downloaded and installed wirelessly without the user having to do anything. This procedure will guarantee that all BharOS-powered gadgets are up-to-date and protected.”