The government plans to introduce a policy that facilitates an ecosystem for the industry to build a native operating system as an alternative to Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS, Union State Electronics and IT Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar said on Monday. .
Cell phones are currently dominated by two operating systems – Google’s Android and Apple’s iOS, which are also boosting the hardware ecosystem, the minister told PTI in an interview.
“There is no third party. So in many ways, there is huge interest in MeitY and the government of India to even create a new device operating system. We are talking to people. We are looking at a policy for that,” said Chandrasekhar.
He said the government is looking for resources in the startup and academic ecosystems for the development of an indigenous operating system (OS).
The operating system is the core software of any computer and mobile device that intertwines the entire hardware and software system for the effective functioning of the operating system.
“If there is any real capability, we will be very interested in developing that area because it will create an alternative to iOS and Android that an Indian brand can grow,” said Chandrasekhar.
The minister said that most policies and policy tools are being reviewed in the context of rethinking goals and ambitions. “It is important to have clear goals. Once we have clear goals and what we have to achieve, all policies and actions will be consistent with them,” said Chandrasekhar.
He, along with Communications and IT Minister Ashwani Vaishnaw, released the second volume of the Electronics Manufacturing Vision Paper prepared by industry body ICEA, whose members include Apple, Lava, Foxconn, Dixon, etc.
The document details a roadmap to reach US$300 billion (approximately Rs. 22,55,265 crore) of electronics manufacturing in the country by 2026 from the current level of US$75 billion (approximately Rs. 5,63,820 crore).
“This report is very accurate and talks about where $300 billion (approximately Rs. 22,55,265 crore) will come from, what the industry has to do and what the government has to do. This is an example of how industry and government should set goals for the country. Manufacturing will be US$300 billion and exports worth US$120 billion (about Rs. 9,02,195 crore) will take place. This is the aim of the government of India now,” Chandrasekhar said.
Currently, the export of electronics from India is around US$15 billion (approximately Rs. 1,12,775 crore).
The minister said that it is the prime minister’s desire and the aim of the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) to create national champions in each of the main product categories.
He said the prime minister has cleaned up the financial market and India has become one of the biggest recipients of foreign direct investment as well as capital.
“The number of foreign banks has increased in India. For the first time, the stock market and public markets are funding and investing in start-ups and technology companies. That kind of transformation has taken place. Today Lava, Dixon, or Boat or any of these companies have the ability to raise capital, capital they didn’t have six years ago,” said the minister.
He said that the production incentive tool will continue to encourage several industrial segments and will depend on the definition of a technological product and which ministry should govern it.