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Source: The post is based on the article “Why is India’s Defence Ministry ditching Microsoft Windows for Maya OS?” published in The Hindu on 12th August 2023.
What is the News?
The Ministry of Defence has decided to replace the Microsoft Operating System (OS) in all its computers that can connect to the Internet with Maya, an Ubuntu-based OS built locally.
What is Maya OS?
What are the key features of Maya OS?
Maya OS offers a number of features such as cloud storage integration, full disk encryption, digital signature, biometric authentication, and a feature named “Chakravyuh”.
Chakaravyuh serves as a robust endpoint solution for anti-malware and antivirus protection. It acts as a safeguarding barrier that shields users from online threats by blocking cybercriminals’ attempts of breach.
Why has India shifted to Maya OS?
Cyberthreat: India’s critical infrastructure has seen numerous cyberattacks and security breaches in recent years.
– Some of the most notable incidents include the cyberattack on Kudankulum Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP) in 2019, the Mumbai Power Grid outage in 2020, the ransomware attacks on Oil India Limited and Spice Jet servers in 2022, and the Goa Flood Monitoring System hack.
– Hence, using an indigenous operating system could not only be a promising step towards securing India’s vital computer systems from malicious actors, but also reduce the country’s reliance on foreign software and enhance its cyber resilience.
IT Modernisation: This will help in IT modernisation efforts that are underway — like digitizing government services and making them interoperable.
