BharOS Operating System

Last Updated on April 14, 2023 by Prepbytes

In a world where data privacy and security have become primary concerns, the Indian government has launched an open-source mobile operating system called BharOS. BharOS Operating System is designed to provide maximum privacy and security to Indian-based users. BharOS Operating System was officially launched on 24th January 2023, and it is a contribution to the idea of the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ project, which aims to create a self-reliant India. In this article, we will take a closer look at BharOS Operating System.

What is BharOS Operating System?

BharOS is a Linux-based mobile operating system that has been developed by IIT Madras in collaboration with JandK Operations Private Limited. This open-source project is aimed at providing a secure operating system for Indian-based users. Unlike Android, BharOS Operating System does not come with pre-installed apps, giving users the freedom to download the apps they want. This feature makes BharOS unique and desirable for users who wish to have more control over their devices.

One of the key features of the BharOS Operating System is the Native Over The Air (NOTA) updates. This feature enables the operating system to receive security updates automatically without requiring any manual intervention from the user. This ensures that the device is always running the latest version of the operating system, which includes the latest security patches and bug fixes.

BharOS Operating System is built on a foundation of trust, with a focus on providing users more freedom, control, and flexibility to choose and use only the apps that fit their needs. The BharOS Operating System is a step towards the ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’ project, which aims to make India self-reliant in the technology sector. However, the operating system still requires sufficient funds and manpower to compete with established operating systems like Android and iOS. The development team also needs to focus on promoting the operating system to the public and providing a good reason for them to switch to BharOS Operating System.

In short words, the BharOS operating system is developed by IIT Madras, which aims to provide a secure and flexible environment for Indian-based users. Its unique features such as NOTA updates and independence from foreign operating systems make it a desirable option for users who want more control over their devices. However, it still needs to overcome certain challenges to become a widely used operating system.

Features of the BharOS Operating System

The BharOS operating system is designed with a focus on user freedom and security. Here are some of the key features of the BharOS Operating System:

1. No Pre-installed Apps:
   Unlike many other operating systems, BharOS doesn’t come with any pre-installed apps, giving users the freedom to choose which apps they want to install.

2. Designed for Indian Smartphone Users:
   BharOS is a Linux-based operating system specifically designed to cater to the needs of smartphone users in India, with features and functions that are tailored to the Indian market.

3. More Usable Storage Space:
   Because BharOS doesn’t include any pre-installed apps, it saves more usable storage space on the user’s device. This means that users can install more of the apps they actually need and want.

4. Native Over the Air (NOTA) Updates:
   BharOS Operating System offers Native over the Air (NOTA) updates, similar to Android, which allow the system to be updated automatically and installed on the device without the need for manual intervention from the user. This ensures that the device is always running the latest version of the operating system.

5. Private App Store Services (PASS):
   BharOS Operating System provides Private App Store Services (PASS), which offer trusted apps from specific organizations. This allows users to find and install apps that are trusted and vetted by BharOS, making their mobile experience more secure and reliable.

How BharOS Operating System is different from Android?

BharOS Operating System and the Android are both based on the Android Open-Source Project (AOSP) and share some similarities. However, there are a few key differences that set them apart.

1. Firstly, unlike Android, BharOS Operating System does not come with any pre-installed apps. This gives users the freedom to choose which apps they want to download and use, and saves storage space on the device.

2. Secondly, Android phones come preloaded with Google services, whereas BharOS does not include any pre-installed software like Google services. Instead, BharOS Operating System allows users to download any software of their own choice, providing greater flexibility and control over the device’s software.

3. Thirdly, BharOS Operating System has a different default browser compared to Android. While Android phones typically come with Chrome as the default browser, BharOS Operating System has DuckDuck Go as its default browser. DuckDuck Go is a privacy-focused browser with features like anonymous browsing mode and Privacy Grade, which may appeal to users who value privacy and security.

In summary, BharOS Operating System and Android share similarities due to their shared AOSP foundation, but BharOS provides greater flexibility and control over pre-installed apps and software and offers a different default browser with a focus on privacy.

Advantages of the BharOS Operating System

BharOS Operating System offers several advantages for smartphone users in India:

1. Security: BharOS Operating System places a high priority on user security and protection. It is built on a foundation of trust, with a main focus on enhancing the security and privacy of users’ data.
2. Automatic updates: BharOS Operating System provides Native Over The Air (NOTA) updates which automatically downloads and installs the latest security patches and bug fixes. This ensures that the device is always running the latest version of the operating system, which is essential for maintaining security.
3. Independent of foreign OS: BharOS Operating System is not dependent on any foreign operating system like Google, Apple, or Microsoft. It does not come preloaded with any apps or services, giving users the freedom to choose and download the apps they want.
4. Default privacy-focused browser: BharOS Operating System comes with DuckDuck Go as its default browser. DuckDuck Go is a privacy-focused browser with several privacy-centric features like anonymous browsing mode and Privacy Grade.

In summary, BharOS Operating System provides users with a secure, independent, and customizable smartphone experience, with a focus on user privacy and security.

Challenges for BharOS Operating System

Current challenges for the BharOS operating system can be summarized as follows:

1. Funding: The team behind BharOS will require sufficient funds to run and enhance the security and protection of the operating system. This may pose a challenge as competing with well-established operating systems like Android and iOS may require significant investments.
2. Manpower: Building a successful operating system like Android and iOS requires a significant amount of manpower. BharOS will need more developers to enhance its features and functionality, which may be a challenge for the team behind the operating system.
3. Marketing: BharOS will need a dedicated marketing team to promote the operating system to the public and provide compelling reasons to use it. This may be a challenge as competing with well-established operating systems like Android and iOS may require significant investments in marketing and advertising.

Conclusion
In conclusion, the BharOS operating system is designed for smartphones in India. It offers a high level of user control over their device’s security and privacy, with NOTA updates and PASS services. However, it faces challenges such as funding, manpower, and marketing to compete with established players like Android and iOS. Overall, the BharOS Operating System presents an interesting alternative for those seeking greater control over their smartphone experience.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about BharOS Operating System.

Q1: Does BharOS Operating System support all the apps available on Android?
Answer: Yes, BharOS Operating System is compatible with all Android apps, and users can download and use any app of their choice.

Q2: Does BharOS Operating System require additional hardware to run on a smartphone?
Answer: No, BharOS Operating System does not require any additional hardware to run on a smartphone. It can be installed on commercial off-the-shelf handsets.

Q3: Who developed the BharOS operating system?
Answer: BharOS Operating System was developed by JandK Operations Private Limited (Jandkops), which was incubated by IIT Madras.

Q4: When was the BharOS operating system released?
Answer: BharOS was released on 24th January 2023.

Q5: What is the purpose of the BharOS operating system?
Answer: BharOS operating system is an open-source Indian government project developed for the use of government public projects. It is designed to provide maximum privacy and security to Indian-based users.

Q6: Is BharOS an open-source operating system?
Answer: Yes, BharOS is an open-source operating system, which means that anyone can access its source code and modify it as per their requirements.