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India Adopts Comprehensive Open Source Policy

Posted by timothy on from the picking-wise-defaults dept.

An anonymous reader writes: The Government of India (GOI) has adopted a comprehensive and supportive open source policy that builds on earlier efforts to adopt open standards for procurement. As we've seen in other regions, the adoption of such policies often brings out concerns from some quarters who want to spread 'fear and doubt' about the policy. Red Hat Vice President of Global Public Policy and Government Affairs Mark Bohannon looks at the implications of the policy, as well as how it will fit into India's broader economic development strategy.

19 comments

  1. Now to pave the roads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    For all that cattle traffic.

    1. Re:Now to pave the roads by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Flamebait

      They're going to need sacred roads.

    2. Re:Now to pave the roads by Ukab+the+Great · · Score: 1

      Maybe that Bohannon in the article will build a railroad for the cattle

  2. Open source site blocking. by sims+2 · · Score: 3, Insightful

    They should also only use open source software to block websites about open source software and dissenters.

    One step forward three steps back.

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    Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
    1. Re:Open source site blocking. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

      They've already repealed that ruling I think.

      I doubt they are taking lectures about progress from the USA, though -- why listen to people from a country that attempts to criminalise reporting of animal cruelty and has current serious presidential candidates saying they'd build a wall to stop neighbours getting in, would set the army and the FBI on those seeking or providing abortions (even though it's legal!), thinks less than two dollars per head of population per year is too much to spend on women's healthcare, is trying to weaken pollution restrictions, etc.

      The US: only taking steps back.

    2. Re:Open source site blocking. by sims+2 · · Score: 2

      After you mentioned it I checked they rolled back the scale of it but it was not repealed.
      Its easier to quietly add stuff to it later since its already in place.

      Otherwise there is really not much I can disagree with there but Idaho did declare that unconstitutional although that does leave many other sates intact.

      Did you know certain screwdrivers are illegal here in the us?
      Its true the epa would rather your chainsaw smoke like a freight train than be adjusted buy an untrained/unlicensed mechanic.

      I could deal with that part of the epa regs being repealed.

      Its about like saying someone is not qualified to operate a lightswitch.

      Although we apparently are too stupid to correctly operate lighters or gas cans thats why the govt fixed them for us.

      Why our elections always devlove into tweedledee vs tweedledumb I don't really know but the 2000 election was BS.

      --
      Minimum threshold fixed. Thanks!
  3. But... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Troll

    Still no comprehensive sanitation policy. India sure has got its priorities right.

    1. Re:But... by Godwin+O'Hitler · · Score: 1

      Because we all know open source is the antithesis of sanitation. Still, I find you're being a bit harsh on Stallman there.

      --
      No, your children are not the special ones. Nor are your pets.
  4. Re:Open Sauce ? by ISoldat53 · · Score: 2

    I wonder if they checked with Redmond before they did this?

  5. progress? of a sort, I guess. by Thud457 · · Score: 0, Troll

    So I'm going to start getting calls from LINUX telling me my computer is being sending an error?

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    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

    1. Re:progress? of a sort, I guess. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      This. "Have I given you excellent customer service, sir?"

  6. Re:Open Sauce ? by drinkypoo · · Score: 1

    I wonder if they checked with Redmond before they did this?

    If history is any indication, they probably did check with Redmond before they did this, and this is a ploy to get better pricing.

    --
    "You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
  7. Re:Open Sauce ? by RabidReindeer · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Oh, I don't know. I'm sure that Tata or Wipro or somebody can come in and claim that they have 100,000 people ready to go to work with full certs in PostgreSQL and MySQL and 20 years experience each at Indian labor rates plus baksheesh. Then what they don't pay in bribes, they'd be paying in taxes.

    Nah, never mind. Unlike US corporations, the Indian government probably isn't that gullible.

  8. Re:Do you mean stealing it ? by Zontar+The+Mindless · · Score: 2

    Dear Sir|Ma'am|Flipper,

    You're using "steal" in a context where it doesn't really seem to apply. What exactly do you mean by "steal"? Are you implying that the Indian government intends to use FOSS software without respecting the license? What evidence have you in support of this?

    Thanks!

    --
    Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
  9. Best of both worlds by ic3m4n1 · · Score: 1

    After RTFA, it looks they want to compare both open source and close source solutions with special emphasis on costs.
    In other words the government want close source solutions to cost same as open source solutions.
    Nothing to do with promotion of open source or transparency which would be going against themselves.

    This is hitting a blow to both fronts to reduce overall price. I dont know why more private corporations dont adopt similar strategy for their projects.

  10. I for one by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I for one welcome 800 million more Linux users. When I see them doing it, then I'll believe it.