Source: The post India advances technological independence through open-source mission now has been created, based on the article “The long march ahead to technological independence” published in “The Hindu” on 10 September 2025. India advances technological independence through open-source mission.
UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3 – Science and technology
Context: On India’s 79th Independence Day (August 15, 2025), the article argues that political freedom is no longer sufficient. True independence now requires technological sovereignty because daily life and national security depend on software, networks, and cloud services controlled by a few foreign companies, creating serious vulnerabilities.
Why does independence now demand technological sovereignty?
- Digital conflict and critical exposure: Modern wars are fought through software, drones, and cyber operations rather than conventional weapons. The most damaging battlefield is cyberspace, where attacks can disrupt banks, trains, and power grids that run on information and communication technology.
- Dependence on a concentrated vendor base: A small number of firms, largely from one country, design and control core systems. If these providers disable cloud or Artificial Intelligence services under national diktat or malice, the nation’s operations can be crippled.
- Risk already demonstrated in practice: Cloud services were recently cut off to a company, proving the threat is not hypothetical. The episode underscores the need to reduce single-point dependencies before a larger crisis forces action.
How can India build software sovereignty?
- Open-source as the practical route: India can create trustworthy variants of Linux and Android free of backdoors. Building them is feasible for a committed professional community. The harder problem is ensuring long-term support, delivering regular updates, and cultivating a large user base to ensure viability.
- Collective mobilisation of talent: The issue affects everyone, but the solution rests with IT professionals who build the digital world. No single institution can shoulder the task. A united, mission-driven effort can do so..
- Component strategy and product discipline: Assemble a crack team to deliver essential client-side tools—database, email client, calendar—and server-side systems—web, email, and cloud servers—using existing open-source bases. Teams must continually update and maintain these like product groups, not one-off projects.
- Self-sustaining business model: The mission must fund itself rather than rely on government or private grants. Today’s climate is more receptive. Companies and individuals worry about external dependence and already pay, directly or indirectly, for “free” open source. Making costs explicit to support trusted software is a small shift.
What is the path to hardware sovereignty?
- Higher barriers and longer horizons: Hardware autonomy is harder than software. Building advanced semiconductor fabs demands massive, patient national investment across chip design, manufacturing, and supply chains.
- Pragmatic first steps: Focus on select hardware components and forge partnerships to grow expertise in chip design and assembly. Fabrication can initially be outsourced while domestic capabilities scale.
- Ethos of non-adversarial independence: As political freedom was pursued through non-violence, technology independence should advance through open source. The goal is self-reliance, not opposition to others.
What mission architecture and societal shift are required now?
- From diluted movement to renewed autonomy: Although much software is open source, effective control sits with centralised cloud and externally managed data. A social movement for autonomy in software and hardware is needed. India has talent and a clear path.
- Implementation over research: Establish an implementation mission led by strong engineering and support teams. It should be coordinated by capable project management, not an academic R&D initiative.
- Enablement, sustainability, urgency: The government should act as an enabler and set up a self-sustaining model early. The collective will must drive planning, development, and execution now—before a crisis compels it.
Question for practice:
Examine why technological sovereignty is vital for India and the mission-based steps proposed to achieve it.
