Can India’s indigenous browser challenge the global giants?

When India launched Aatmanirbhar Bharat in May 2020, during the third lockdown triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, it was seen as a strong initiative to reduce dependence on imported manufactured goods. Aatmanirbhar Bharat recharged the hardware part of electronics and information technology, from smartphones to semiconductors.

However, although India is a leader in outsourcing and IT services, the scheme failed to make a significant mark in software. The government launched a home-made operating system and some messaging platforms, but they faded.

The latest and perhaps most ambitious challenge yet is the push to create a web browser, which could significantly reshape India’s digital infrastructure if successful. However, given the popularity of browsers such as Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and even Opera, can India’s indigenous web browser grab fingertips?

In August 2023, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) launched the Indian Web Browser Development Challenge (IWBDC).

MeitY expected the challenge to inspire technology enthusiasts, innovators, and developers to create a reliable web browser tailored to Indian needs, featuring its trust store with an inbuilt CCA India root certificate, as well as cutting-edge functionalities and enhanced security and data privacy protection features.

Why does MeitY want an indigenous Indian browser? Firstly, it ensures enhanced data security, with user data kept within India’s borders. Secondly, it complies with India's Data Protection Act, ensuring privacy and adherence to the highest standards of data security. With all data, including updates, managed entirely within the country, India will retain full control over the browser even if a foreign country imposes sanctions or restrictions.

MeitY announced the winners on March 20. The top three got prize money earmarked exclusively for scaling, development, and marketing efforts. Zoho Corporation, a Chennai-headquartered software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, won the challenge with its Ulaa browser.

Ulaa stands out with features such as phishing detection powered by machine learning, enterprise-grade security, a 24-hour security patch policy, regional language support, Kids Mode, Zen View, and built-in ad tracker and malware protection. Startups Team PING and Team Ajna were named first and second runners-up.

Easier said than done

At first glance, a browser appears to be just another software application, but it’s far more complex. A modern web browser needs a robust rendering engine to interpret web pages, defend against cyber threats such as phishing and malware, and ensure seamless cross-platform functionality.

One of the biggest challenges in developing a competitive browser is the rendering engine—the core software that powers the display of web pages. While Google’s Chrome uses Blink and Apple’s Safari relies on WebKit, building one from scratch requires years of research and significant investment. Even Microsoft, when revamping Edge in 2020, adopted Chromium with custom enhancements.

Zoho’s Ulaa browser uses the Chromium open-source project.

Developing a browser entirely from scratch is a monumental task, requiring expertise in rendering engines, security protocols, and cross-platform compatibility. Global players like Chrome and Safari have invested decades and billions into their ecosystems.

Sudipta Deb, Product Manager, Ulaa, explains, “It took Google 10-12 years to develop the first version of Chrome, which was based on the existing WebKit engine, itself derived from the KHTML engine. Instead of waiting for a decade to potentially stop using technologies where we might perceive a lack of control, it's often more efficient to leverage existing, robust open-source technologies and build upon them.

Deb says this allows faster development of a usable product, while leaving room for innovation in foundational aspects.  

Amit Jaju, Senior Managing Director, Ankura Consulting Group (India), explains, “While purists might debate whether a browser built on Chromium can be termed ‘indigenous’, India could justify this label by integrating unique features tailored to local needs.”

Jaju cites support for 22 Indian languages, compliance with India’s CCA root certificates, and seamless integration with government services, such as DigiLocker.

“The emphasis should be on value addition rather than starting from zero,” says Jaju.

The scaling-up hurdle

Building a browser is easy; getting users and developer support is the challenge. Google and Apple dominate the market by preloading Chrome and Safari on Android smartphones and iPhones. This makes user adoption by newcomers more challenging.

Firstly, a homegrown browser must match Chrome, Safari, or Opera in terms of speed, stability, and cross-platform performance across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. Adding India-specific features such as UPI integration and Aadhaar-based security could provide a competitive edge.

Although the browser is built on an open-source platform, continuous investment will be required to update it and apply security patches. Most developers opt for revenue from advertisements. But Zoho does not plan to involve ad-based revenues or monetise user data. Instead, it intends to keep the browser free for individuals while having a paid service for organisations that require enhanced security, visibility, and control over their business data.

Zoho will get individuals to adopt the Ulaa browser by emphasising its privacy-first approach and the specific features designed for Indian users.

“This approach aims to create a revenue stream that supports the continued development and maintenance of Ulaa without resorting to practices that could compromise user privacy, such as selling user data or injecting advertisements, which can create conflicting business goals and erode user trust,” says Deb of Ulaa. 

Plus, the award money is likely to be used to enhance the browser’s development, expand its feature set, and support marketing efforts to increase user adoption. 

Another option to scale India’s web browser could be partnering with Indian OEMs for preloading the browser on smartphones from Jio, Micromax or Lava, which could boost initial adoption. The government could require smartphone companies to pre-install India’s web browser or mandate its use for public sector websites, digital governance, and e-commerce platforms.

Will users trust a government-backed browser?

While MeitY and the winner of the open challenge will be joint owners of Ulaa’s intellectual property rights, the government will exercise its IPR if the winning team has no plan to get the public to adopt it or to commercialise it within a year.

One of the biggest concerns about a government-backed web browser is privacy. The Indian government has pushed for greater data localisation and control, even banning VPN services in the past.

Will users trust the government with their browsing data? For an Indian browser to succeed, it must provide transparency regarding data collection, allow independent security audits, and offer features such as built-in VPNs and ad blockers. Otherwise, privacy-conscious users will reject it outright. 

A case in point is the second winner, Ping Browser, which is already mired in controversy for being a clone of an existing browser, also raising questions about the checks and evaluation on the ministry’s behalf. 

However, Zoho claims the stable public release of Ulaa does not include Indian root certificates by default. Zoho might consider introducing an “opt-in” feature in future to allow users to include Indian certificates if they choose.

Deb says, “It is important to clarify that simply trusting root certificates does not inherently enable secret surveillance or man-in-the-middle attacks without the user’s awareness. Users can always inspect the certificate chain of a website by clicking the lock icon in the address bar to see which authority issued the certificate.”

Public tools, such as ‘crt.sh’, allow anyone to search for and view all publicly issued certificates globally, making clandestine surveillance attempts highly improbable. This level of transparency and user control helps address trust concerns, says Deb.

Is the road to success littered with failures?

While India has the technical talent to build a web browser, the real challenge lies in adoption, performance, and trust. In the past, several attempts were made, but the software failed to scale up effectively.

During the pandemic, MeitY had developed the Sandes messaging app as an alternative to WhatsApp.  Sandes never gained traction beyond government users, primarily due to its limited features and subpar UI/UX. India’s attempt at a homegrown operating system, the BOSS Linux, failed due to poor developer support and a lack of third-party applications. 

Then there was the Koo app, built as an alternative to Twitter, now known as X. Koo gained traction when ministers and ministry officials started using it. However, it failed to retain general users due to poor monetisation, a lack of innovation, and limited engagement. Koo was shut down.

India doesn’t need just another browser: it needs a better one. Will the lessons from the failures help steer Zoho’s browser into success?