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{{Short description|Mobile operating system}}
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Infobox OS
| name = BharOS (IndOS)
| logo =
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| screenshot =
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| developer = JandK Operations Private Limited, [[IIT Madras]]
| family = [[Android (operating system)|Android]] ([[Linux]])
| working state = Current
| source model = [[Closed source software|Close source]]
| released =
| latest preview version =
| latest preview date =
| latest release version = BharOS 1
| latest release date =
| marketing target = [[Smartphone]]s
| programmed in =
| language = [[Indian English|English (India)]], [[Hindi]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]
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| package manager =
| supported platforms = [[ARM64]]
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| ui = [[Graphical user interface|Graphical]] ([[multi-touch]])
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}}

'''BharOS''' (formerly '''IndOS'''<ref>{{cite web |last=Sharwood |first=Simon |date=25 Jan 2023 |title=Well that escalated quickly: India demos homebrew mobile OS |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/25/bharos_india_demo/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230929205911/https://www.theregister.com/2023/01/25/bharos_india_demo/ |archive-date=September 29, 2023 |work=The Register}}</ref>) is a [[Proprietary software|closed-source]], [[List of custom Android distributions|Android-based]] operating system developed by [[IIT Madras]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/news/story/indian-govt-aims-to-build-aatmanirbhar-chipset-and-bharos-to-take-on-google-apple-2326104-2023-01-25|title=Indian govt aims to build Aatmanirbhar chipset and BharOS to take on Google, Apple|website=India Today|date=January 25, 2023 |access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref> It is funded by the [[Government of India|Indian government]], which intends to use it on government and public systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/made-in-india-operating-system-bharos-tested-check-out-its-features-3719078|title='BharOS', Made-In-India Operating System, Tested. Check Out Its Features|website=NDTV.com|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref>

==History==
In 2023, [[Competition Commission of India]] (CCI) filed two [[antitrust cases against Google]], the developer of [[Android (operating system)|Android]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/ettech-explained-what-is-the-government-backed-bharos-and-why-is-it-important/articleshow/97323076.cms|title=ETtech Explained: what is government-backed BharOS and why is it important?|access-date=January 26, 2023|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=January 25, 2023 }}</ref> In addition, there have been growing calls for an Indian [[app store]] that does not levy exorbitant sales tax; these two factors contributed to the creation of BharOS.<ref>{{cite web |title='BharOS' vs Android: India Needs Not Just a Self-Reliant but Reliable Operating System |url=https://thewire.in/tech/india-bharos-mobile-operating-system |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=The Wire}}</ref> It aims to reduce India's dependence on foreign software and promote the use of Indian technology (despite being an Android [[Fork (software development)|fork]] itself).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/technology/tech-news/bharos-ready-for-launch-govt-private-firms-do-a-reality-check-11674666012046.html|title=BharOS ready for launch; govt, private firms do a reality check|first=Gulveen|last=Aulakh|date=January 25, 2023|website=mint|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref>

The operating system was introduced by JandKops, a startup company incubated at [[IIT Madras]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/iit-madras-incubated-firm-develops-indigenous-mobile-operating-system-3707736|title=IIT-Madras Incubated Firm Develops Indigenous Mobile Operating System|website=NDTV.com|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref> Indian ministers [[Ashwini Vaishnaw]] and [[Dharmendra Pradhan]] publicly launched the operating system on January 19, 2023.<ref>{{cite tweet|user=EduMinOfIndia|number=1616085879684231171|title=Paving a way for Atmanirbhar Bharat!}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/bharos-why-seeing-the-indian-operating-system-on-a-smartphone-wont-be-easy-8404494/|title=Can India's BharOS replace Android, iOS? Tough road ahead|date=January 25, 2023|access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/technology/bharos-vaishnaw-pradhan-test-made-in-india-mobile-operating-system-developed-by-iit-madras/videoshow/97271838.cms|title=BharOS: Vaishnaw, Pradhan test 'Made In India' mobile operating system developed by IIT Madras|website=The Economic Times|date=January 24, 2023 |access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref>

== Features ==
BharOS targets security-conscious groups and does not come with any preinstalled third-party programs.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 26, 2023 |title=Open Sesame: BharOS makes it possible to break the stranglehold of Android. It requires support |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/toi-editorials/open-sesame-bharos-makes-it-possible-to-break-the-stranglehold-of-android-it-requires-support/ |access-date=January 26, 2023 |website=Times of India Blog}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.firstpost.com/world/everything-you-wanted-to-know-about-bhar-os-or-bharat-os-the-made-in-india-operating-system-that-wants-to-take-on-android-12044232.html|title=What is BharOS, the new mobile operating system made in India that wants to take on Android?|date=January 25, 2023|access-date=January 28, 2023}}</ref> This approach gives the user 'more freedom and control' over the permissions that are available to apps on their device. Users can choose to grant permissions only to apps that they require to access certain features or data on their device.<ref name=features/> The software can be installed on commercially available handsets, providing users with a secure environment, the company stated in a statement.<ref>{{cite web |title=IIT Madras-incubated firm develops BharOS, India's rival to android |url=https://newsonair.com/2023/01/24/iit-madras-incubated-firm-develops-bharos-indias-rival-to-android/ |access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref> The new operating system will provide access to trusted apps via organisation-specific Private App Store Services (PASS), which is a list of curated apps that meet security and privacy standards.<ref name=features>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/features/story/bharos-to-give-stiff-competition-to-googles-android-here-are-all-your-questions-answered-2325271-2023-01-23|title=BharOS, a new rival to Android? Here are all your question answered |last=Bhati |first=Divya |archive-url=https://archive.today/20230929211713/https://www.indiatoday.in/technology/features/story/bharos-to-give-stiff-competition-to-googles-android-here-are-all-your-questions-answered-2325271-2023-01-23 |archive-date=29 Sep 2023|website=India Today|date=January 23, 2023 |access-date=January 26, 2023}}</ref>

At a panel discussion, Karthik Ayyar, the Director of JandKops, indicated that only applicable security updates will be applied to BharOS devices in closed group networks<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7My5NqDruAE |title=[REPLAY] BharOS Panel Discussion |language=en |access-date=2024-04-07 |via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>

== Criticism ==
Divya Bhati writing for ''[[India Today]]'' noted that instructions on downloading, installing BharOS on compatible devices, or plans for new devices, or its support for security and software updates were scant.{{r|features}}
In September 2023, a fork of [[GrapheneOS]] containing references to BharOS was made public on [[GitHub]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-03 |title=Leaked GitHub repo raises questions on IITM's BharOS: Story so far |url=https://www.techcircle.in/2023/10/03/leaked-github-repo-raises-questions-on-iitm-s-bharos-story-so-far |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=Techcircle |language=en}}</ref> Although the GitHub Profile of [https://github.com/sadhasiva1984 Sadhasiva], which hosted the code has since been deleted, it can be viewed through unofficial forks by archival websites.<ref>{{Cite web |date=28 September 2023 |title=Github Repo of sadhasiva1984 |url=https://github.com/sadhasiva1984 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://git.it-kuny.ch/BharOS/ |archive-date=30 September 2023 |website=Github}}</ref> Through a tweet, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation identified the code to have originated from Megam Solutions, a [[Chennai]]-based software company which was not connected with JandKops. However, IITM Pravartak Technologies Foundation is a client of Megam Solutions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Megam Solutions |url=https://megamsolutions.com/ |access-date=2024-04-22 |website=megamsolutions.com |language=English}}</ref> In a subsequent tweet, the organization highlighted communications with the CEO of Megam Solutions, that the name BharOS was unintentionally used.<ref>{{Cite web |title=IITM Pravartak on X |url=https://twitter.com/IITMPravartak/status/1708139234106982668 |access-date=2023-10-08 |website=X (formerly Twitter) |language=en}}</ref>

Ayyar, stated that the operating system would remain closed source software due to "organizational reasons". Ayyar indicated that he did not have the authority to make decisions regarding whether BharOS's source code would be open or closed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agam's Tech Tricks |url=https://t.me/agamtechtricks/8316 |access-date=2024-04-07 |website=Telegram}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Android}}
{{Linux distributions}}
{{Mobile operating systems}}

[[Category:State-sponsored Linux distributions]]
[[Category:2023 software]]
[[Category:Mobile Linux]]
[[Category:Android (operating system) software]]
[[Category:ARM operating systems]]
[[Category:Computing platforms]]
[[Category:Custom Android firmware]]
[[Category:Embedded Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Linux distributions]]
[[Category:Linux distributions without systemd]]
[[Category:Mobile software]]
[[Category:Operating system families]]
[[Category:Software using the Apache license]]

BharOS - Revision history

Aranyam: made new pg needs work