Microsoft Outage Sparks Global Disruption: Lessons for India's Self-Reliance

The Impact of Microsoft's Global Outage

The Global Reaction

 

In today's world, everyone is talking about Microsoft's recent global outage. The incident has sparked a range of reactions; some are amused, while others are understandably saddened by the disruption. Many are now questioning the heavy reliance on Microsoft, as the outage caused several airports to shut down, disrupted operations in many factories, and brought numerous companies to a complete standstill. In our modern era, computers are essential for nearly every task, from sending a simple email and communicating to uploading and downloading data and designing.

 

Microsoft's Dominance in the Computer Market

 

Which company dominates the global computer market? The answer is straightforward—Microsoft. While building a computer is one thing, running it requires an operating system. In this realm, the choices are limited to Windows or Apple's OS. Recently, Microsoft faced a 'blue screen of death' issue. Elon Musk, a known critic and former user of Microsoft products, has pointed out this failure as indicative of broader issues within the company.

 

The Case of China and Russia

 

China remained largely unaffected by the outage due to its self-sufficiency campaign, initiated several years ago. The country has significantly reduced its reliance on Microsoft software, opting instead for domestically produced operating systems and hardware. Similarly, Russia was not severely impacted. An article from the Moscow Times noted that, due to sanctions, Russia had already minimized its dependence on Western technologies. Had it not been for these sanctions, Russian airports might have faced significant disruptions.

 

The Need for Self-Sufficiency in India

 

The question arises: how did Russia manage to avoid the impact? Following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, many major companies from G7 countries, including McDonald's and Nike, exited the Russian market, pushing Russia towards self-sufficiency. India has also embarked on a self-sufficiency campaign. When will India achieve self-sufficiency? It's not about abandoning Microsoft overnight, but about commercializing and scaling up Indian-made operating systems.

 

Preparing for future crises

 

Suppose Microsoft experiences a complete crash tomorrow. The recent 'blue screen of death' issue was attributed to an update related to CrowdStrike Falcon Sensor. What if a more significant issue arises, such as an earthquake in the USA severely damaging Microsoft's offices and servers? How prepared are we to handle such scenarios? Are Indians sufficiently familiar with Indian-made operating systems? We need a viable substitute, and major players like TATA or Reliance could potentially develop computers with completely Indian-made operating systems.

 

The Path to Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India)

 

If we need to conduct transactions tomorrow, it should be possible with our own technology. We must consider scenarios like potential sanctions from the USA if we take action in POK. If Microsoft withdraws from India, self-dependence becomes crucial. Prime Minister Modi introduced the slogan 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' (Self-Reliant India) in 2020. Since then, significant progress has been made towards self-sufficiency. However, the technology sector remains an area requiring immediate focus and prioritization. Without indigenous alternatives, India risks being at a standstill in the event of future crises. Creating an Indian version of Microsoft is imperative for ensuring national resilience and technological independence.

Conclusion

Prime Minister Modi's call for 'Atmanirbhar Bharat' in 2020 has led to significant strides in self-sufficiency. However, the recent Microsoft outage highlights the need for immediate and focused efforts to develop domestic alternatives to foreign technologies. By prioritizing this aspect, India can safeguard its technological independence and ensure uninterrupted progress.