Technological Sovereignty: A Path to Independence

As India celebrated its 79th Independence Day in 2025, it is important to recognize that true independence in today's world extends beyond political autonomy to include technological sovereignty. Technology is integral to every aspect of life, and the geopolitical landscape has shifted towards cyber warfare, emphasizing the need for India to enhance its technological capabilities.

Current Technological Dependence

• India lacks its own operating system, database, and foundational software, creating a dependency on foreign companies.
• This reliance poses a vulnerability, as control over these technologies rests largely with companies from a single country.
• The threat is real, as demonstrated by instances where cloud services were halted for companies.

Solution: Open-Source Model

The open-source model offers a viable path to technological independence:

• India can develop its own versions of software like Linux and Android without backdoors.
• Long-term support and a large user base are necessary for sustainability.
• The effort requires the collective action of India's technology community.

Hardware Sovereignty Challenges

Achieving sovereignty in hardware is more challenging than in software:

• Building semiconductor fabs requires significant national investment in design, manufacturing, and supply chain management.
• Focusing on specific hardware components and forming partnerships for chip design and assembly could be a first step.

The Role of Open-Source Software

India's journey towards technology independence should be akin to its non-violent struggle for political independence, leveraging open-source software:

• Much software today is open-source, yet control remains centralized with external companies.
• A social movement for autonomy in software and hardware is necessary.

Implementation Strategy

• Establish teams to create India’s versions of essential software using open-source resources.
• Develop both client-side (database, email client) and server-side components (web server, cloud server).
• Ensure continual updates and maintenance with self-supporting business models.
• Government should enable this mission but establish a self-sustaining model swiftly.

To achieve technological independence, India must initiate a mission focused on development and support rather than research, leveraging the expertise in industry and academia. The collective effort is essential to avoid external dependencies for critical needs.