MeitY Launches Indian Web Browser Challenge with ₹3.41 cr prize pool

The Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY), in collaboration with the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA) and the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) Bangalore, has launched the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC).

The IWBDC is an open challenge competition that seeks to inspire the creation of an indigenous web browser that possesses cutting-edge functionalities and top-tier security features and integrates an inbuilt CCA India root certificate trust store. This certificate will play a pivotal role in enhancing security and data privacy while enabling the digital signing of documents using a crypto token for secure transactions.

The competition consists of three rounds: ideation, selection of finalists, and the final round. Throughout the challenge, technical mentorship will be available to participants. The winner and first and second runners-up will be awarded from a total prize pool of ₹3.41 crore, with the winner receiving ₹1 crore. The winner will also receive continued support to advance the developed browser.

Highlighting MeitY's proactive role in shaping the nation's technological future, Sunita Verma, Scientist G & Group Coordinator (R&D in Electronics & IT), underscored the significance of the challenge. She noted that the web browser is a critical component through which users access the internet, making the challenge's goals all the more pertinent.

Arvind Kumar, Controller of Certifying Authorities, MeitY, noted that while the country has made strides in creating a robust PKI infrastructure, there is a dependency on SSL certificates issued by foreign entities. The development of an indigenous web browser with an inbuilt India root certificate addresses this challenge.

It remains to be seen whether the eventual winner of the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge ends up using existing open-source browser engines such as Chromium or WebKit, which ensures a solid foundation but won’t make it indigenous.