Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC) on 9th August 2023.
Key points
- The Indian Web Browser Development Challenge is spearheaded by MeitY, Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) and C-DAC Bangalore.
- The IWBDC is an Open Challenge Competition that seeks to inspire and empower technology enthusiasts, innovators, and developers 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.
- Proposed browser would also focus on accessibility and user friendliness, ensuring built-in support for individuals with diverse abilities.
- Moreover, the browser envisions the ability to digitally sign documents using a crypto token, bolstering secure transactions and digital interactions.
- CCA has played role in ensuring the trustworthiness and security of digital certificates issued in India and help create a robust Public key infrastructure or PKI infrastructure, enabling secure electronic transactions across the country.
- However, for SSL certificates, the country has been dependent for SSL certifies issued by Roots of Foreign entities.
- Initialising to develop its Own Browser with inbuilt India Root Certificate would help overcoming this challenge.
- India has moved a step ahead for making the country Internet Resilient which refers to a country’s ability to withstand and recover from various disruptions and threats that may impact its internet infrastructure and connectivity.
