Why Is India’s Defence Ministry Ditching Microsoft Windows For Ubuntu-Based Maya OS?

Relevance: GS 3 - Achievements of Indians in science & technology; Indigenization of technology and development of new technology; CyberSecurity

(Source: The Hindu, 08/14/23)

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Why in the news?

• Recently, India’s Defence Ministry has decided to replace Microsoft Operating System (OS) in all its computers that can connect to the Internet with Maya, an Ubuntu-based OS built locally.
• While Maya is being introduced in the Defence Ministry, the Army and Air Force are still assessing it.

What is Maya OS?

• The Defence Ministry has developed Maya OS with the help of various government agencies, including the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), and the National Informatics Centre (NIC).
• The new OS will be backed by a protection system called Chakravyuh.
• Chakravyuh is an end-point anti-malware and antivirus software that creates a virtual layer between the user and the internet, blocking hackers from accessing sensitive data.
• It is aimed at preventing malware attacks by cybercriminals who are increasingly targeting critical infrastructure and government agencies.
• The transitioning to open-source software would take many years because only sensitive ministries will make the switch in the near term.

How does it differ from Microsoft’s Windows?

• Windows, a commercial software, requires licensing fees and enjoys widespread use due to its ease of installation. It relies on the Windows NT kernel.
• Maya is based on Ubuntu, a Linux OS employing monolithic architecture.
• Contrarily, Windows utilizes a hybrid kernel combining microkernel design with supplementary code for enhanced performance.
• Apple’s MacOS also uses a hybrid kernel called XNU.
• Ubuntu, a Linux OS that was used to build Maya, runs on monolithic architecture. Linux versions are called “distributions” or “distro”, and they comprise free and open-source software. Android is also based on the Linux kernel.

Cyber threats and malware

• USA: In December 2020, cybersecurity firm FireEye (now Trellix) uncovered a cyber espionage campaign targeting US government agencies and private organizations.
• The attack breached the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), responsible for securing government networks.
• The attack was traced to the Russian intelligence service SVR.
• Hackers used SolarWinds' Orion network management software to distribute malware via a disguised software update. Over 18,000 customers downloaded the compromised update, exposing vulnerabilities. Microsoft's systems were breached too.
• India: In recent years, India's critical infrastructure has faced a series of cyberattacks and security breaches.
• Notable incidents include the 2019 cyberattack on the Kudankulum Nuclear Power Plant (KKNPP), the 2020 Mumbai Power Grid outage, ransomware attacks on Oil India Limited and SpiceJet servers in 2022, and the hack of the Goa Flood Monitoring System.
• This incident highlights the susceptibility of software update processes to external cyber threats, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures.

An open source future

• Increased cyber attacks: The increasing cyber threats linked to proprietary software are prompting governments worldwide to consider free and open-source software (FOSS) for their operating systems.
• A Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) survey revealed 669 global government initiatives focused on FOSS between 1999 and 2022, with sustained interest after a peak in 2003.
• Interoperability and digitization: The shift supports IT modernization efforts like digitizing government services and ensuring interoperability.
• The SolarWinds attack highlighted the gravity of cyber threats, further motivating governments like India to embrace open-source software, as seen with Maya.

Maya OS is a step in the right direction

• Security: Adopting an indigenous operating system offers a potential solution to bolstering security for vital computer systems, mitigating threats from malicious actors.
• Aatmanirbar: It will also reduce India's reliance on foreign software and enhance its cyber resilience.
• The adoption of Maya reflects India's commitment to leveraging open-source software for the India stack model.

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FAQs

MCQ

Question: Consider the following:

1. Aarogya Setu
2. COWIN
3. DigiLocker
4. DIKSHA

Which of the above are built on top of open-source digital platforms?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2, 3 and 4 only

(c) 1, 3 and 4 only

(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4