Foreign Software Dependence: A New Threat to India's Economic Security

• India's growing reliance on foreign software and platforms poses a significant risk to economic security and control.
• A recent incident at an oil refining company saw systems crash due to foreign software companies halting services amid international sanctions, not a cyberattack.
• This highlights a critical issue: foreign rules often prevail when systems are controlled abroad, impacting Indian businesses and services.
• Critical sectors like banking, electricity, telecom, and aviation heavily depend on foreign software, risking billions in business and daily services if systems fail.
• Experts call for developing indigenous software, clear legal frameworks to prevent foreign sanctions from directly affecting India, and strengthening digital infrastructure.