Open source software is key for 'digital democracy': Ashwini Vaishnaw

The government on Monday launched a contest for firms which create Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) in a bid to boost such development in the country. Called the FOSS4Gov Innovation Challenge, the contest will be run through the government's citizen platform MyGov that completed seven years of its launch today by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Union minister for IT, telecom and railways Ashwini Vaishnaw said that open source software is key for “digital democracy” and it will help ordinary citizens get access to technology much more easily. Vaishnaw and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath also inaugurated the UP chapter of MyGov platform.

“We are going to celebrate the 75th year of India’s Independence… this will aid digital democracy, make sure that people are able to have direct conversations with government. And ordinary people will benefit the most from open source software,” he said speaking in Hindi.


Adityanath also said that technology has helped the state in cutting down leakages and corruption especially in areas such as distribution of food rations. “The UP platform of MyGov, will help in taking the state’s policies to the people easily,” he said.