India is taking important steps towards becoming a “product nation”, focusing on self -reliance in technology. On World Happiness Day, the Government of India announced the winners of the Indian web browser development challenge (IWBDC) through the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (Meity). The objective of this initiative is to develop an indigenous web browser under the self -sufficient Bharat program, emphasizing digital self -reliance.
Union Minister of Electronics and Information Technology Shri Ashwini Vaishnav announced the winners of the Indian web browser development challenge (IWBDC). At a ceremony organized by Meity on March 20, 2025, he expressed great pride in the participants who performed outstanding innovations, remarkable creativity, expertise and made significant progress in the development of a reliable web browser to suit Indian needs. These development is a step ahead to realize the attitude of self -reliant India and to empower India’s digital future.
Union Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnav expressed pride in the creativity and expertise of the participants in developing a browser according to India’s needs. He highlighted the government’s approach to transforming India from a service nation to a product nation, and emphasized the need for scalable and safe domestic digital solutions.
The indigenous browser will enhance data security by keeping the user data within the boundaries of India and ensuring compliance with the country’s Data Safety Act. It will also be compatible with major platforms such as iOS, Android and Windows, which will provide extensive access and digital sovereignty.
Zoho Corporation emerged as the winner, team ping first runner-up and team Ajna second runner-up. Jio Vishwakarma was given special recognition for her multi-platform design. The winning teams received prizes of ₹ 1 crore, ₹ 75 lakh and ₹ 50 lakh respectively. The minister also praised the participation of Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, highlighting India’s diverse talent pool.
Three phases- Idea, prototypes and products in the products IWBDC participated in 434 teams and included key features like Trust Store, Child-Freedy Browsing and Web 3 support with CCA India Certificate. This challenge is an important step towards creating an Indian digital stack and empowering the country’s digital future.
