Indian citizens may soon have the option to digitally sign documents using crypto tokens. This feature is expected as part of a national web browser development project led by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
Details Revealed by the Ministry
On August 9th, the Ministry announced the launch of the India Web Browser Development Contest, aiming to “inspire and empower” developers across the country to create a native web browser with an internal Certificate Authority Controller (CCA) and the Indian root certificate. According to the announcement:
“The browser will also focus on accessibility and user-friendliness, providing built-in support for individuals with different abilities.”
The announcement also includes the ability to digitally sign documents using a crypto asset embedded in the browser. The contest will consist of three rounds: the first round will be limited to 18 participants, the second round will be limited to eight participants, and the final winner will be rewarded with approximately 34 million Indian rupees ($411,000).
India’s Technological Initiatives
The Indian government has been actively involved in technology and crypto-related regulatory efforts in recent months. It chaired the intergovernmental forum of the world’s largest 20 economies known as G20, endorsing the Financial Stability Board’s recommendations for a global crypto framework and calling for special emphasis on developing economies in potential guidelines for crypto.
In August, the lower house of the Indian parliament approved a bill that will facilitate data localization regulations for major technology companies. The Digital Personal Data Protection Act will simplify storage, processing, and transfer standards for global tech giants like Google, Meta, Microsoft, and local firms.
These developments are not India’s first steps in blockchain technology. Recently, a platform was created in India for citizens to store their university diplomas electronically. Developed in collaboration with Polygon Labs, the project allows university graduates to store their diplomas as NFTs. These diplomas are held in personalized wallets and cannot be transferred to another wallet.
