The BharOS was created by JandK Operations Private Limited (JandKops), which was developed by IIT Madras as well as the Section 8 (Not for Profit) Company Pravartak Technologies Foundation. As part of its National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems, the Department of Science and Technology (DST) of the federal government funds the foundation (NMICPS). BharOS can be installed as a secure operating system on commercially available cell phones.
- BharOS is an indigenous mobile operating system developed by IIT Madras-incubated firm JandKops.
- Provides a secure environment for users
- Currently being provided to organizations with strict privacy and security requirements.
- Allows users more freedom, control, and flexibility in app choice and permissions
- Includes ‘No Default Apps’ and ‘Native Over The Air’ updates for added security
- Offers access to trusted apps through organization-specific Private App Store Services
BharOS services are currently offered to businesses with strict privacy and security standards, whose employees handle sensitive data, necessitating private communications over password-protected mobile apps. IIT-M stated that such users need access to private cloud services over private 5G networks. V Kamakoti, director of IIT Madras. According to IIT Madras, the BharOS Service is a mobile operating system focusing on giving users more freedom, control, and flexibility to select and use only the appropriate apps. This ground-breaking system aims to fundamentally alter how users perceive security and privacy on mobile devices.
He also stated that IIT Madras intends to collaborate closely with many more private industries, government agencies, strategic agencies, and telecom service providers to increase BharOS usage and adoption. BharOS has No Default Apps (NDA), which means that users are not forced to use apps they are unfamiliar with or do not trust. Furthermore, this approach gives users more control over the apps’ permissions on their device, as they can limit access to certain features or data on their device to apps they trust. BharOS provides ‘Native Over Air (NOTA) updates to help keep devices secure. NOTA updates are downloaded and installed automatically on the device, with no need for the user to initiate the process.
This ensures that the device is always running the most recent operating system version, which includes the most recent security patches and bug fixes. BharOS ensures the trustworthiness of Indian mobile phones with NDA, PASS, and NOTA. BharOS allows users to access trusted apps from organization-specific Private App Store Services (PASS). A PASS grants access to a curated list of apps that have been thoroughly vetted and have met certain organizational security and privacy standards.
Q: Who developed the BharOS mobile operating system?
A: BharOS was created by JandK Operations Private Limited (JandKops), a Section 8 (Not for Profit) Company that IIT Madras established in collaboration with Pravartak Technologies Foundation.
Q: What is the purpose of BharOS?
A: An indigenous mobile operating system called BharOS offers users a secure environment and can be installed on devices that are available off the shelf in the market. It is currently being offered to businesses with strict privacy and security policies, whose employees use restricted mobile apps to communicate privately about sensitive information.
Q: How does BharOS ensure security and privacy for its users?
A: BharOS is built on a foundation of trust and provides users with greater freedom, control, and flexibility to choose and use the right apps. It comes with No Default Apps (NDA), meaning users are not forced to use apps they may not be familiar with or may not trust. Additionally, BharOS offers ‘Native Over The Air’ (NOTA) updates that automatically download and install on the device, ensuring that the device is always running the latest operating system version with the latest security patches and bug fixes. BharOS also offers access to trusted apps through organization-specific Private App Store Services (PASS), which provides access to a curated list of apps that have met certain security and privacy standards of organizations.
Q: What is the plan of IIT Madras for BharOS?
A: To increase the usage and adoption of BharOS, IIT Madras plans to work closely with more private companies, government agencies, strategic agencies, and telecommunication service providers.
Q: What is PASS in BharOS?
Private App Store Services (PASS) provided by BharOS provide access to trusted apps. A PASS gives users access to a curated list of apps that have been thoroughly vetted and meet specific security and privacy requirements.
Release of Indigenous #Atmanirbhar Mobile Operating System, “BharOS” today. The Operating System has been developed by #IITMadras incubated firm J and K Ops Pvt. Ltd. For full video: https://t.co/uWKIddveqV #AtmanirbharBharat #MakeInIndia pic.twitter.com/Groj8tb7wK
— IIT Madras (@iitmadras) January 19, 2023
