Amid growing concerns about cyber threats, the Indian Defence Ministry has declared Maya OS as the official operating system for its computers. This Linux-based Maya OS is set to take over the Windows OS in various departmental systems.
Recent coverage by The Hindu highlighted the shift to Maya OS for every internet-enabled computer within the ministry. Given its foundation on the open-source Linux platform, and its similarity to Microsoft Windows, the adoption process promises to be seamless.
Sources from the government have confirmed that prior to August 15, Maya OS had been integrated into all internet-connected Defence Ministry systems situated in South Block. Alongside, the Navy has greenlit the use of this operating system. However, the Air Force and the Army are still in the evaluation phase, especially given the escalating malware and ransomware threats in the country.
To fortify online systems against threats, Maya OS incorporates a security mechanism named Chakravyu to counteract malware. This operating system’s development spanned a mere six months.
Although Maya OS is making headlines, it’s not India’s debut in developing homegrown operating systems. Another Linux-based OS, known as Bharat Operating System Solutions (BOSS), has been under development for nearly 16 years. Previously trialed by the Army, BOSS was a collaborative initiative between the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) and the National Resource Centre For Free and Open Source Software (NRCFOSS).
