NEW DELHI: India’s heavy dependence on US software, cloud services, and social media platforms poses significant economic and security risks during geopolitical tensions, according to think tank GTRI. Washington could potentially restrict access to services or data, disrupting banking, governance, and defence systems, while influencing public discourse via foreign platforms.
“India’s economy and security are highly reliant on US digital infrastructure, creating a major vulnerability during international crises,” said the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI).
GTRI founder Ajay Srivastava urged the government to launch a “Digital Swaraj Mission” focused on sovereign cloud infrastructure, indigenous operating systems, homegrown cybersecurity, and AI-driven leadership.
He pointed out that Europe is already developing sovereign cloud systems and enforcing the Digital Markets Act, while China has replaced foreign software in government, defence, and industrial sectors with domestic alternatives.
Srivastava warned that India’s entire digital backbone could be paralyzed if US tech firms halt services such as Windows, Android, or cloud platforms. With over 500 million Indian smartphones running on Google’s Android, communications are especially vulnerable.
He proposed a phased rollout of the mission:
Short term (1–2 years): Mandate sovereign cloud hosting for critical data, launch a national OS initiative, and pilot Linux transitions in key ministries.
Medium term (3–5 years): Complete migration of government systems to Indian software and establish public-private cybersecurity consortia.
Long term (5–7 years): Achieve cloud parity, replace foreign operating systems in defence and critical sectors, and develop globally competitive open-network platforms.
