Takshashila Report - An Open Tech Strategy for India (A Working Draft)

Executive Summary

This is a working draft that we would like people to contribute to. In the spirit of open source, we invite contributors to build on and add to the ideas in this document. If you have any feedback or would like to contribute to any of the sections in this document, please contact us at research@takshashila.org.in or raise it on the GitHub repository

Open-source technologies can help India achieve techno-strategic autonomy, economic growth, technology leadership, and skill development. Transparency and inclusivity also help foster trust, broaden access to technology, and further democratic values.

We recommend a range of policy initiatives for software, hardware and standards that will nurture a sustainable open-source technology ecosystem.

Software

• Adopt Open Standards, Open Protocols and Networks and Open Ecosystems

• Adopt an open-source first policy in government procurement

• Establish an open source programme office to coordinate policies, use and contribution of open source software (OSS) across government bodies

• Inculcate OSS skills in the education curriculum

• Fund existing open-source projects of interest to the government and public

• Mandate acknowledgement of OSS use

Hardware

• Co-create robust open-source hardware products with like-minded partners

• Award grants for open-source electronic design automation (EDA) tools

• Open-Source the process design kit (PDK) of government research fabs

• Implement a durability index for electrical and electronic products

Standards

• Promote the adoption of open standards

• Participate actively in standards development organisations (SDOs)

• Facilitate the development of open standards

Authors